Hyderabad: A large number of bikers continue to violate helmet rule even as traffic cops are booking nearly two lakh cases every month for violation of the rule. Experts said enforcing helmet rule will be a success only if traffic cops change their strategy.
Currently, traffic cops are conducting checks for helmet rule only on main roads and this style has become monotonous. "All motorists know that traffic cops would be at junctions or curved roads on main corridors. Some bikers stop the vehicle before the junction, unlock the helmet from the rear and wear it. They remove it and lock it again after passing the junction or check point. There is no surprise element left in helmet checking and as such there is no fear or respect for law," said social activist T.S. Gupta.
Apollo Hospitals’ consultant psychologist Dr Minhaz Naseerabadi said that the general tendency among people is why they should wear a helmet if they are going only to a shop on the next road or within the colony.
“Traffic cops should change their strategy and conduct checks at colony entrances, exit points and secondary roads in addition to the main roads. If checks are conducted quite regularly on secondary roads too, it will make motorists wear helmet while starting from home as they will be mindful that there may be a traffic cop at the street corner,” said Dr Minhaz. He proposed that the drive to enforce helmet rule continued for a longer duration.
Traffic and transport expert, Prof. P R Bhanu Murthy of JNTU said surprise was important in creating respect for law. “If the bikers know the checking points, they will find alternative routes. Change of spots and catching bikers by surprise will have lot more impact in making helmet rule a success," he said and stressed the need to study the design of helmets to make them more user-friendly.”
