Sikhs In Australia Want To Be Exempt From Rule Requiring Motorcyclists To Wear A Helmet

A Sikh motorcyclist group is hoping to be given an exemption on the rule requiring riders and passengers to wear a helmet.

Helmets have been a standard safety requirement for years as it can be a live-saver in the event of an accident or crash.

However, the Singhs Social Motorcycle Club (SSMC) says they should at least be given an option not to wear a helmet because of their religion.

The Daily Mail reports the Sydney-based group feels helmets should be optional for them as it can be annoying to take their turban on and off to accomodate the head safety device.

One of the club's founders, Mavleen Singh Dhir, told the news outlet: "We are pushing for this not just for the motorcycles. It's more to do with freedom of choice.

"When I'm wearing that turban, I have that sense of responsibility, it won't allow me to do anything wrong. I have to treat everyone equal."

He believes that only Sikhs with a full motorcycle license should be allowed the option to wear the helmet or not, which would strip the right from Sikh L and P-platers.

Putting a turban on can take up to 15 minutes as it involves the careful wrapping of several metres of fabric around one's head.

Dhir also questioned just how effective helmets are in accidents.

"Can any helmet company guarantee they won't stop serious injury or death? It's a freedom of choice and citizens should be trusted with what they're doing," he said, via The Daily Mail.

The push to grant Sikhs in New South Wales an exemption from mandatory helmet wearing is backed by Amar Singh, the President of Turbans 4 Australia.

"It is a bit upsetting that I can't ride my motorbike. I love riding bikes. I used to ride them a lot overseas," he explained to the news outlet.

"The Government should be fairer to the people of the Sikh community and allow us to be exempted from helmet and hard hat laws.

"Wearing the turban is a matter of faith and being Australian is about being fair for everyone else."

This issue was decided in a German court back in 2019.

A Sikh motorcyclist in the European country wanted to have the option not to wear a helmet as he said it wouldn't fit over his turban.

However, the Federal Administrative Court in Leipzig ruled that the motorcyclist just has to 'accept this restriction to his freedom of religion', according to SBS.

Presiding judge, Renate Philipp, said: “The helmet duty is not only to protect the motorcyclist, but also the physical and psychological integrity of other accident participants and rescue workers."

The ACT government has introduced an exemption for bicycle riders who have to wear a religious headdress that makes 'it impractical to wear a helmet'.

The SSMC is hoping they will be able to get a similar exemption.

They wrote on Facebook: "To some this initiative may be a community asking to change rules! But fundamentally it’s much more than that.

"It’s the freedom of expression and choice in a democratic country. Support us to bring this change."