For all of us who thought that the police always get away with rules we are forced to follow, come February 2018, apart from catching the public without helmets, a special squad will be sent to conduct special checks at police stations and other places where police forces are deployed to ensure that all officers use helmets that bear the ISI mark. Policemen will have to pay a fine if they are found using helmets without the ISI mark.
IPS officer BNS Reddy reveals, “Be it a policeman or common man, the law and rule is the same. If they are found wearing helmets without the ISI mark, they will be liable for prosecution and fines. Laws are uniform, not different for different people. It is a welcome gesture but this rule has been there for quite some time, it is not something new. Violations by policeman have been dealt with not just fines but also with action. Being a government servant and abiding by the rules is subject to disciplinary action. Especially a traffic cop, if he violates a law, he is not fit to function as cop. He should be the first one to follow the rules and only then will he be able to implement it in a proper way.”
A youngster who feels this would be a very good and impactful move, HR associate Tanay Bhotika says, “When we see cops catching us without helmets the first question that comes into our mind is — Are they wearing helmets? I have seen almost four to five different types of helmets. I have seen people wear helmets that do not cover the full face, and that is not an ISI certified helmet, which would not really help you in the event of an accident. This initiative will certainly bring about a change where people enforcing the law themselves will have to abide by it. This will encourage people to wear proper helmets.”
Prarthana Hemanth, a city-based student says, “Safety is not only for the common man, but also policemen too. The government is employing many ways to ensure the public and the police are kept safe. I feel that the use of helmets has increased accidental survival rates drastically. This move is certainly welcome.” For all who look up to policemen, city-based professional Anushka Balasubramaniam says, “Our country is supposed to look up to our police officers and they set a good example for us to implement a rule. Only when they follow rules can they expect the public to follow the same. I’m sure citizens would be more than happy to have them as role models.”
City-based Sociologist Dr Sudeshna Mukerji feels, “Helmets have just become a ritual. We don’t understand the fact that the helmet is made for our protection. The ISI mark signifies quality. So when we use other helmets, it doesn’t really matter if we wear them or not. I think this a really good initiative that the police also are forced to wear helmets. I think much more stringent action needs to be taken to ensure that this initiative is carried out. The police also can set an example for the public by following this law.”
IPS officer BNS Reddy says, “Be it a policeman or common man the law and rule is the same. If they are found wearing helmets without the ISI mark then they are all liable to prosecution and fine. There are no different laws for different people. It is a welcome gesture but this rule has been there for quite some time it is not something new. Violation by policemen has been dealt with not any fine but also with action. Being a government servant and abiding by the rules is subject to disciplinary action. Especially a traffic cop if he violates then he is not fit to function as cop. He should be the first one to follow the rules and only then will he be able to implement it in a proper way.”
