Why Maharashtra’s roads are turning deadlier: Only 19% riders wear helmets correctly

MUMBAI: A roadside observation study conducted in Maharashtra from Dec 2022 to Feb 2025 shows that correct helmet usage among motorcyclists was as low as 19% and among pillion riders it was almost non-existent (4%). Speeding was most frequently observed among ride-share vehicles (23%) as compared to govt and private vehicles, taxis, and commercial vehicles.The study was conducted by the Johns Hopkins International Injury Research Unit, part of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, through the Bloomberg Philanthropies Initiative for Global Road Safety. It was published online by the Maharashtra highway police recently. For the speed study, 7.75 lakh total observations were made by the team during baseline and across five additional observation rounds, as well as three special surveys in Dec 2023, March 2024, and Aug 2024.Speeding was found to be higher on state highways (21%) and national highways (15%), compared to expressways. Going by type of vehicle, speeding was more frequent in sedans (25%), SUVs (21%), and motorcycles (16%) than any others. The study recommended more visible and widespread enforcement, reforming the e-challan system for ensuring timely issuance and following up on penalties for violations, establishing clear speed management guidelines for all types of vehicles, and implementing speed calming measures, such as speed bumps, rumble strips, safe speed signage, and designation of low-speed areas to protect vulnerable road users. For the study on helmet use, 2.17 lakh observations were performed, and for the study on seat-belt and child restraint use, 1.75 lakh observations were performed by the team.Correct helmet use was highest in major urban areas (24%), followed by small towns (21%) and was lowest in rural areas (10%). Going by type of road, correct helmet use was lowest on arterial roads (12%), followed by highways (17%), and highest on collector and local roads (30%).Recommendations included enforcement among both riders and pillions, and implementing mass media campaigns in rural areas. Use of child restraint for minors below 12 years was found to be 0%. Seat-belt use was much lower among passengers (13%) as compared to drivers (41%). Male drivers (40%) and passengers (11%) wore seat-belts less frequently compared to female drivers (71%) and female passengers (17%). Seat-belt use was lowest among commercial vehicles (16%) and highest among taxis (51%).Recommendations include enhancing enforcement of age-appropriate child restraint use and monitoring all enforcement and mass media campaigns to assess their effectiveness.In 2025, 15,549 people were killed in road crashes and 32,147 were injured in Maharashtra.