Omar worried about youths driving bikes without helmets

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Friday expressed concern over the growing tendency among the youth not to wear helmets. He, however, added that if they were all arrested there would be no place left in jails.

The chief minister made this statement during question hour in the legislative council when a member asked why the traffic department allowed youths without helmets to drive motorbikes after paying a mere fine. The member wanted to know why they were not being arrested.

Abdullah said: "We will not arrest such youth because that would leave no space in the various jails of the state. Besides, it will give a handle to our detractors accusing us of police action against the local youth."

"No, we will not arrest them for this violation. But I regret the growing tendency among them not to wear helmets while driving motorcycles. This is a part of some misplaced macho bravado among the youth that endangers their lives.

"It should be the duty of the parents not to allow their children to come out on a motorcycle without wearing a helmet.

"More than anybody else, it should be the youth themselves who must understand the danger to their lives by ignoring to wear a helmet," he said.

Nearly 75 percent of the youth in the valley and the Jammu region can be seen driving motorbikes without wearing a helmet.