Over 17k helmetless riders challaned in US Nagar in 2025-26

Rudrapur: Despite the ubiquitous roadside slogan, “Safety ignored, accidents assured,” a growing number of two-wheeler riders in Udham Singh Nagar are risking their lives by flouting basic helmet laws.Data from the transport department’s Rudrapur subdivision reveals an alarming surge in negligence. During 2024–25 financial year, authorities booked 13,685 riders for traveling without helmets. That figure jumped to 17,174 violations in 2025–26.The dangerous trend has persisted into the current fiscal year, with 1,367 challans (traffic tickets) issued in April 2026 alone—averaging nearly 45 penalties every day. Officials note these numbers exclude separate citations issued monthly by the local traffic police and City Patrol Unit.The consequences of this widespread recklessness have repeatedly turned fatal across the district. On Feb 9, a biker was crushed by a dumper in Kashipur, with authorities saying a helmet likely would have prevented his fatal head injuries.In March, a young man and a woman died on the spot after their motorcycle rammed a divider on Rudrapur-Kashipur highway, both sustaining severe head trauma.On April 6 in Rudrapur, a hit-and-run near Bagwara Mandi left one youth dead and another injured. On April 24 in Kichha, a biker was killed after being struck by a private bus. Officials cited the absence of a helmet as the decisive fatal factor.“Our enforcement teams prioritise checking for helmets during all vehicle inspections,” said Naveen Singh, ARTO enforcement. “Alongside strict penalties, we consistently run awareness campaigns so commuters understand that a helmet is a necessity, not an option.”