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Few takers yet for helmets

Though 2.5 lakh were booked in March, many are seen flouting the rule.

Hyderabad: From the upmarket Banjara Hills and Jubilee Hills to Charminar and Malakpet in the Old City, from Hitec City to Uppal and Rajendranagar in Cyberabad, bikers are continuing to violate the helmet rule. Though a total of 2.50 lakh riders were booked for not wearing helmets in March, when the drive was launched. two-wheeler riders continue to flout the rule in the jurisdictions of 25 traffic police stations in Hyderabad and 12 in Cyberabad.

Despite this, it is important to continue the drive. Traffic cops should not lose heart, they should book cases, increase the penalty and counselling period, said environmentalist K. Purushotham Reddy who is campaigning to reduce vehicular pollution. “Discipline among motorists will gradually come. A change in the mindset cannot be expected in a month. They will gradually start respecting the law provided the enforcement is sustained,” he said.

Social worker T. Satish Gupta said the rule should be enforced until wearing the helmet becomes a part of road culture in Hyderabad. Easing up even a little will send the wrong message, he said. “My neighbours recently purchased helmets. Some of them wore it for a day, others are wearing daily. One day every two-wheeler rider and pillion rider will wear helmets. Patience is what traffic cops need,” he added.

DCP, Traffic, L.S. Chauhan said the traffic police would not stop the drive. “Enforcement against drunken drive for three years has brought down the number of repeat violators. We expect the same with the helmet rule in the long run,” he said.

Self-protection drive is not a silly joke:

Motorists were taken aback when the Hyderabad traffic police posted on their Facebook page: “Dear Hyderabadis, helmet rule is cancelled” on Friday. It was an April Fool joke which kicked up a debate on the FB page on the importance of wearing helmet. Many netizens made their displeasure clear with a range of emoticons. Motorist Jetram Balavardhan Reddy posted that his entire family had bought helmets for a lot of money and the news had almost given him a mini heart attack. Once he realised that it was an April Fool’s joke, he saw the lighter side of it.

The cops made it clear lower down the page that it was a joke. “If someone felt bad just ignore it. Wear helmets and have a safe drive,” the traffic admin posted. Mr Naveen Dharma-reddy posted that he would continue wearing helmets for his own safety. Mr Nazrul Hasan posted: “Last week I met with an accident, It was the helmet which saved my life thanks to the traffic police implementing the rule strictly. Surely after this incident I have learned my lesson...awesome work.”

Ex-serviceman Adi Lingutla wrote that he has been wearing a helmet since 1988. “I was in the Army... without helmets you cannot drive in the Army premises… that strict rule made me a habitual helmet wearer....I cannot change my habit... thanks to the Army.” Others wanted the traffic police to take it up with the government to get bad roads repaired and also start penalising police personnel who continue to ride two-wheelers without helmets. Despite the support police got, they were given a thumbs down when they sought feedback on the “No helmet-no petrol” proposal.

New drives to be taken up:

Traffic police said the drive against jumping signals, cellphone driving, speeding and overloading would be launched soon. The drive was to be launched last month. The driving licenses of those who are caught violating the norms twice would be suspended for up to three months, said DCP, Traffic, A.V. Ranganath.

Counselling for 3 days planned:

A month into the helmet rule enforcement, traffic police has now decided to subject those ignoring the rule to three straight days of counselling. Two-wheeler riders who have been booked thrice for not wearing helmets will have to attend counselling for three days in a row at the Traffic Training Institute, Goshamahal, said DCP Traffic A.V. Ranganath.

“Identification of multiple violators will be done based on driving licence and not on the vehicle registration number,” he said. Traffic cops will seize the vehicles of repeat violators and ask them to attend day-long counselling sessions at TTI Goshamahal.

( Source : Deccan Chronicle. )
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