[avira_tk]

Originally Posted by SPIKE ARRESTOR

High time someone files a petition in the court, asking for reliefs from abuse of laws by people in power, some of these officials behave as goons and enforce rules according to their whims and fancies. I don't understand the logic how a GoPro mounted on the helmet endangers road users! Did they do any study? Any data to support their claim?

Are these officials blind to the mods done on tires/wheels, lights, horns, color, body etc. of vehicles? Kerala MVD seriously needs to introspect on what they are up to. So many good things could be done, and they are behaving like cry babies.

Disappointed.

Spike

Easy pickings and no risk, it's pretty much a police state at this point. The MVD is the place to amass enormous riches. The media parrots whatever opinions these crooks spout as though it's the latest advance in road safety technology.

The last thing they wanted to criminalise was bluetooth, with their own idiotic interpretations, in contradiction to central government regulation.

[Vasuki]

Whether you like it or not technically, an action camera on the helmet will affect its structural integrity.

So the MVD may be right, even though that is not their intended reason and objective. Thus we might not have a case to contest against MVD.


An analogy would be, bull bar to the car which defeats the purpose of bumper and crumple zones.

ps: I use Gopro and love them.

[IshaanIan]

By the same logic that they are applying, seatbelts, airbags, riding gear and helmets itself are dangerous since they give the rider/driver a sense of security that might encourage the to go faster

Originally Posted by abhishek46

I think this is a bit too much.

Me too really unfair for Kerala MVD to take such a strict stance on mods and now this. One would think the most educated state in India might operate more sensibly

Originally Posted by abhishek46

What harm does a camera mounting do to the functioning of a helmet?

If one falls of the bike and starts to slide, the mount can get caught on imperfections in the road and cause excessive torque spin on the head of the rider.

[anjan_c2007]

The provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act 1988 and Central Motor Vehicles Rules 1989 apply to the entire country. There is no law banning such cameras in helmets.

The corresponding laws in Kerala are the Kerala Motor Vehicles Act 1968 (amended in 1988 and 2019) and Kerala Motor Vehicles Rules 1989, if I am not wrong. There would be no such Section or Rule banning cameras in helmets here too.

So even if the Motor Vehicles Department of Kerala wants to bring in such a law/ rule the necessary amendment/s to the Act/ Rules are desired. And when such a state amendment goes contrary to the Central Act/ Rules, there could be legal scrutiny under Article 254 (1) of our Constitution, unless such an amendment receives the President of India's assent under Artcile 254 (2) to become law of the respective state.

Else such over enthusiastic, knee jerk reactions fail to stand legal turbulence once challenged in a competent court of law.

[clevermax]

Originally Posted by Vasuki

Whether you like it or not technically, an action camera on the helmet will affect its structural integrity.

Interesting perspective. However, I don't think a good quality helmet with a camera mounting point is structurally weak than one without a mounting point. A well-designed mounting point shouldn't be a significant factor in its structural integrity. I may be wrong.

Now, Kerala MVD's point is different altogether - they say that a rider with a camera will be focusing on filming than riding, thereby making it unsafe for him/her and others. This may be true for social media addicts. Unfortunately the rule will affect those riders who use the camera for other purposes such as the dashcam use case. Kerala MVD will start seeing anyone with a helmet mounted camera as YouTuber / Social media junkie.

[Ford_madhan]

It says you cannot mount the camera on helmet. Did not say that you cannot mount on bike right? Asking as i cannot read the article.

[Vasuki]

Was just going through the below vlog of a leading vlogger from Kerala. He says this news is false.

He contacted MVD and they've denied the news. Let's see, how this develops?

See from 2.55. Pls excuse, the vlog is in Malayalam.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n1N-07O_wL0

[naveen.raju]

If I had the camera, I would drive a lot safer and I guess most people tend to think so.

Driving in Kerala is getting complicated each day. You have the numerous speed cams and MVD coming up with new rules. Instead of creating this confusion, why don't the transport commissioner/MVD official hold a press conference, spend a solid 1 hour and explain all the rules regarding modification (what can be done and what cannot), using bluetooth etc and educate the public? I know this won't be done but wish they had (stops their ultimate motive, which is $ )

[GTO]

The number of bikers who have helmet-mounted cameras is too minuscule. IMHO, the real reason could be that these cameras provide hard evidence which can catch (or prevent) extortion by the cops. That's probably why the MVD is now denying the news.

What are their thoughts on wearing bodycams, like cops in the USA?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZ9SJHJdu-U

[drivingmelody]

Authorities are not very happy with Dash Cameras or any form of device that can prove that vehicle owner is not in violation of a rule under which they have been stopped on the road.

Since Dash Cameras are becoming very popular, authorities should clearly explain how "Dash Cameras" should be installed on a bike and on a four wheeler. Having different rules/law in every state is going to be a problem when travelling inter-state.

[Chhanda Das]

Originally Posted by GTO

What are their thoughts on wearing bodycams, like cops in the USA?

Kolkata Police already wears them but sometimes during certain conversations and/or during certain transactions those cameras get turned off automatically if you catch my drift

[v1p3r]

What a delight. I'm so glad my taxes pay for such sophisticated thinking and governance. Simbly excellent!

Originally Posted by Sran

Since most "educated" Indians look to west to validate themselves and this time it just happened that India did it first and world copied few are rattled.

Both your links - for Italy and the UK - will show that they were doing it before our gormint thought of it. We did not do it first, unless we've also invented time travel. Maybe a little verification before posting?

And yes, I might qualify as 'educated'.

Originally Posted by Sran

Sun film was not banned by any government. It was banned by Supreme court in 2012. It has since refused to modify its order. If nothing else, it has certainly diluted sitting and drinking in car.

The quote (which I've included above) says nothing about any government. Maybe by your definition, we should also ban cars, beverages, and maybe even sitting itself. It was banned due to a PIL by a man whose job appears to be PILs. Not-so-fun fact - there is no data that rapes decreased after the ban, which is what it was intended for.

Originally Posted by Sran

The kerala order is good imo. It will certainly help in curbing the mad and rash driving of Youtubers. 99% of these sorts of people are rash and dangerous drivers who have only one goal and that is to impress fools like them in order to earn more followers.

I think we should just ban bikes. And YouTube.

[megazoid]

a case of an external fitment on the helmet flying off at speeds and falling on the windshield of an unsuspecting non YouTuber going to buy vegetables who seeing the projectile takes evasive action and ploughs into the nearest beverage shop. It is certainly a possibility if the camera is not attached properly. But then the reason given to ban is something else. So, makes one wonder.

[PrasannaDhana]

It makes things worse. Now those kids who the cops are worried about, will drop their helmet cameras and take their mobile phones to record their adventures, making them twice as prone to disaster.

[LTAutoMad]

Originally Posted by GTO

The number of bikers who have helmet-mounted cameras is too minuscule. IMHO, the real reason could be that these cameras provide hard evidence which can catch (or prevent) extortion by the cops. That's probably why the MVD is now denying the news.

What are their thoughts on wearing bodycams, like cops in the USA?
https://www.Youtube.com/watch?v=LZ9SJHJdu-U

Agree that the notoriously corrupt Kerala MVD (others will say which state MVD isn't?!) could be getting the jitters due to these helmet-mounted cameras. But, it will be an easy switch to body-mounted cameras for the vloggers. Or handlebar mounts.

Personally, I find it hard to watch helmet-camera videos as the action is too jerky. The handlebar-mounted ones are more realistic.

As for the cops in the USA, there are many serious incidents (of cops abusing their power or even acting criminally) with their bodycams turned off!
One typical case was the infamous reverse-racism case of the black Minneapolis police officer shooting dead the blonde white Australian woman (Justine Diamond) who had called 911. Surprise, surprise, the body cameras of both the patrol officers were turned off during the killing.