The transport department of Karnataka will make it compulsory for pillion riders to wear helmets from January 14 this year in urban areas.

This comes after a letter from the Supreme Court’s Road Safety Committee on December 28, 2015 told the government to enforce the rule.

Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy said on Monday that the notification would be out “anytime soon”, adding that he had approved of the proposal over a month ago.

“We wanted to implement the rule, but had run into a lot of resistance from the public. That is when we invited objections, “Transport Commissioner Rame Gowda told The New Indian Express.

According to the existing law under Section 129 of the Motor Vehicles Act of 1988, everyone on a two-wheeler must wear protective headgear without exception irrespective of age, location or gender although states are free to implement this rule at their discretion.

“This move should be welcomed by the public as it is for their own safety. During accidents involving two-wheelers, the pillion riders are more at risk,” M N Srihari, traffic expert and adviser to the state government told the newspaper.

There were media reports in September 2015 following a fatal accident, which said that the state government would make helmets compulsory for pillion riders including children, from November.

Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy had then said, "We will make helmets mandatory for pillion riders in Bengaluru, Mysuru, Mangaluru, Hubballi-Dharwad and Belagavi from November."