Karnataka Bans Pillion Riders On Motorcycles Less Than 100cc

In a truly bizarre turn of events, the Karnataka government has banned pillion riders on two-wheelers with an engine capacity below 100cc in order to cut down on the frequency of accidents. This simply means that riders riding bikes below 100cc will no longer be allowed to have a pillion. In addition, the state transport department will no longer register bikes below 100cc which have seats for pillion riders. Two-wheelers sold before the ban, however, will not be affected by the new order.

The order was issued based on a Karnataka High Court ruling in a case relating to the award of compensation by an insurance firm to two people who were involved in a road accident in Mysuru in March, 2009. The pillion rider suffered permanent disability due to the accident. It should be noted that both the rider and the pillion were minors and did not possess a driver’s license.

Transport commissioner of Karnataka, B Dayananda, said, “Many agencies have certified that the new bikes which have a displacement of 100cc are designed to carry pillion riders and therefore, the Karnataka government too will assess the same and the rules followed by other state governments and draft the proposal to address the change in the Karnataka Motor Vehicle Rules.”

The ban is likely to affect the sales of many lower capacity motorcycles, like the Hero Splendor, Hero Passion series, the TVS XL100 and the TVS Scooty Pep Plus. In order to get around this ruling, manufacturers can apply for ‘type approval’ certificates which will allow them to put the pillion seat back on. It still remains to be seen how strictly the ban will be imposed and how it’ll affect the state of Karnataka that’s dominated by entry-level motorcycles.

Opinion: Considering our tradition of banning things instead of solving them, the decision doesn’t come as much of a surprise. The frequency of accidents can easily be resolved if we focus more on tightening the driver's test and educating drivers and riders on the basics of motoring. The fact that the infrastructure (or the lack thereof) is usually the cause behind a few mishaps doesn’t paint a good picture. Banning pillion riders would barely make any difference, but it will be interesting to see how this new ruling pans out.