In order to avoid having to take off their turbans before hopping on their motorcycles, a Sikh motorcycle club is advocating for the exemption of helmets for riders.
The Singhs Social Motorcycle Club, which has 30 members and is based in Sydney, is requesting a religious exemption.
Mavleen Singh Dhir, 37, one of the club’s founders, claimed that the movement went beyond simply advocating for riders to go without helmets.
In our religion, turbans are a sign of freedom and equality, he told Daily Mail Australia.
If they don’t go faster than 50 km/h, Sikhs in New Zealand are permitted to ride motorcycles without a helmet.
When asked if his club had a target speed for helmet exemptions, Mr. Dhir responded that it would be impractical to have police track the speed of every rider wearing a turban.
But, he continued, “inexperienced drivers shouldn’t be granted these freedoms.”
“L- and P-platers shouldn’t be exempt,” the statement reads.
Mr. Dhir emphasized that choosing not to wear a helmet was a “personal choice.”
It’s an option, not a requirement, he declared.
Can any helmet manufacturer promise that their products won’t prevent serious harm or death?
Citizens should be trusted with their actions since they have the freedom to do so.
The six-metre-long turban, according to him, needs up to 15 minutes to put on.
We are promoting this for reasons other than the motorcycles.
He explained that the issue was more about having the option to choose, noting that Sikh soldiers in Gallipoli didn’t wear helmets.
When I’m wearing that turban, I feel a feeling of duty that prevents me from doing improperly.
I have to be fair to everyone.
In April of last year, the SSMC’s Australian chapter was established.
Since then, the club has committed itself to serving the community by assisting flood victims and feeding the hungry.
While recently organizing a trip to Canberra to speak about the involvement of Sikhs in World War I, they have also worked to raise awareness about endangered creatures like koalas.
The desire for turban riders to choose whether or not to wear a helmet is shared by Mr. Dhir.
The president of Turbans 4 Australia, Amar Singh, claimed that he was one of many Sikhs who felt discriminated against by legislation in NSW requiring helmets for motorcycle riders.
“The fact that I can’t ride my motorcycle is a little disturbing.
I enjoy riding bicycles. In the past, I frequently rode them abroad,” the transport manager said to Daily Mail Australia in 2019.
Another problem for the Sikh community, he added, was the requirement for hard hats on construction sites.
The president of Turbans 4 Australia stated, “I’m not in favor of breaching any laws, which is why I’ve chosen not to ride my bike.”
But the government ought to be more considerate of the Sikh community’s members and grant us an exemption from the requirements for hard hats and helmets.
Being Australian is about treating everyone fairly, and wearing the turban is a matter of faith.
It takes roughly 10-15 minutes, according to Sikhs who have resorted to taking off their turbans in order to wear hard hats.
“Your hair is frequently disorganized. Productivity loss is a serious issue, according to Mr. Singh.
As a mark of respect for God, Sikhs refrain from cutting their hair, and the turban is referred to as a “special crown.”
While in Victoria, the ACT, Western Australia, Queensland, and South Australia, riders riding bicycles are not required to wear helmets for religious reasons.
While the Northern Territory only requires helmets for adult road users, NSW does not provide exemptions for push bike riders.
On sidewalks and in other public areas, those who are under the age of 17 must wear them.