Hyderabad: Rule violation on compulsory helmet-wearing may stop you on your tracks for a few hours in a virtual detention. The state-level empowered committee on road safety has suggested that helmet rule violators be sent directly for counselling sessions lasting as high as four hours. A similar system was in existence in the city some years ago.
Though wearing of helmet is helmetmandatory for both the driver as well as the pillion-rider of two-wheelers since 1988 as per Section 129 of the Motor Vehicles Act, it has not been enforced with seriousness here.
Counselling had been held earlier when Tejdeep Kaur was ACP (traffic) here in 2005. However, this was stopped due to public outcry and political pressure.
As traffic cops were pouncing on two-wheel riders, the death of a few youths while they tried escape complicated the matter.
However, the transport department and traffic cops are under tremendous pressure after the High Court took a serious note of non-implementation of the helmet rule. Most deaths in road accidents involving two-wheeler riders are caused due to head injuries.
City's transport officials and traffic cops would meet shortly to decide on the date from which counseling sessions could be held. Telangana state joint transport commissioner C. Ramesh said the empowered committee has recommended counseling sessions for helmet rule violators. An action plan will be prepared and sent to the government for approval, he said.
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