Bengaluru: The state treasury got richer by at least Rs 50 lakh with the police swooping down on helmet-less pillion riders. Thanks to the new law, which makes helmets mandatory for pillion riders, the city traffic police have booked nearly half-a-lakh violators, in just six days after the law came into force.
Despite other commitments like Republic Day duty, the city traffic police continued to crack their whip against the pillion riders not wearing helmet and booked as many as 10,000 cases on a daily basis. Though the rule was clamped on January 12, the police started levying fine on violators from January 21 and over 50,000 pillion riders were booked ever since.
On January 21 alone the traffic police had booked 5,861 pillion riders for not using helmets. The numbers increased as police resorted to levying fines till late night. A total of 2,924 cases were booked in West division, while East division police fined 2,937 pillion riders for the new rule.
While the West division topped the list by booking over 20,000 cases for helmet less riding, the east and north divisions reportedly booked around 15,000 cases each.
Additional Commissioner of Police (traffic) M.A. Saleem said that the drive has been a success. “More number of riders are now wearing helmet. We have seen a positive response. The special drive against helmet for pillion riders will continue until the rule is adhered to,” he said.
S. Girish, DCP (traffic) west told Deccan Chronicle, “We have been booking the violators strictly. Majority of riders and pillion riders are donning protective gears. Interestingly, due to the sustained drive, even the lone riders are seen abiding the rules.”
Though, the city traffic police claim that they have booked thousands of cases against pillion riders for violation of rules, there are numerous instances of two-wheelers riders not wearing helmets in various parts of the city. “Riders in the city are very much in line with the rule and are adhering to it. However, on the city’s outskirts there are cases of pillion riders are still riding without safety gear,” Saleem said.
