Chennai: Helmet enforcement for both riders and pillion riders appears to have slackened across the city, with routine checkpoints disappearing from several arterial and interior roads, even as motorists increasingly ride without protective headgear, sometimes carrying three or more people on a two-wheeler.The decline in visible enforcement is noticeable in Saidapet, Guindy, Anna Salai, Royapettah, Porur and several parts of north Chennai, where traffic police personnel were earlier deployed to check violations. Barring a few checkpoints at places such as Moolakothalam junction, Nelson Manickam Road and Anna Nagar, dedicated helmet checks have become less frequent.Barricades remain at some junctions, but the enforcement that once accompanied them appears to have softened. The consequences are visible on the roads. “People are riding without helmets and throwing caution to the wind. Earlier, the possibility of being stopped at the next junction acted as a deterrent,” said Vishnu, a resident of Vysarpadi.The easing of enforcement comes at a time when fatalities linked to riding without helmets have increased. In Chennai, 25 people riding without helmets were killed in two-wheeler crashes in the first six months of 2026, compared with 21 during the same period last year.The trend is more pronounced across Tamil Nadu. Of the 4,180 people killed in two-wheeler crashes between Jan and June this year, 1,136 deaths were linked to riders without helmets, compared with 803 during the same period in 2025, an increase of more than 41%.Traffic police personnel say senior officers have instructed personnel to book at least 50 helmet violation cases a day. “Instead of stopping motorists and getting into arguments, personnel have been asked to photograph vehicles and register cases electronically,” said a senior traffic official.Road safety expert P Kamalanathan said sustained enforcement is crucial as even a brief relaxation in checks can encourage motorists to disregard helmet rules.
