A Symbolic Helmet Day was observed in Pune on Wednesday, marking the beginning of a three-day traffic police drive to promote helmet wearing among government officials and residents.
Traffic police were seen standing at various public squares and government offices handing over roses to those who were found wearing helmets. In some cases, they imposed penalties on violators.
Although the enforcement of the helmet rule was put on hold in the city following public opposition, district collector Rajesh Deshmukh announced the campaign considering road safety concerns. “In India, every day 411 individuals lose their lives in road accidents. Of this, 80 per cent of individuals are bike riders and pedestrians. Helmets provide considerable safety to the brain and increase chances of survival in the event of potentially fatal accidents by 80 per cent. The Motor Vehicle Act 1988 makes it mandatory for a two-wheeler rider and pillion rider older than four years of age to wear helmets,” Deshmukh said.
Vijay Kumar Nagar, deputy commissioner of police (traffic), said that over 600 traffic police would be on the roads during the three-day period and focus on sensitising rather than penalising the residents.
Deshmukh has asked government employees to lead by example by wearing helmets every day. For Wednesday’s campaign, all state government and civic offices as well as schools and colleges were directed to issue orders to wear helmets while riding two-wheelers.
“Government officers, staffers and citizens who would be found not wearing the helmet while riding a two-wheeler will be liable to be penalised under the provisions of Motor Vehicle Act 1988,” Deshmukh said.
“A total number of 1,626 two-wheeler riders were penalised and most of them were government and civic staffers. As part of the collector’s orders, checkpoints were erected near government offices,” said Arjun Botre, police inspector (traffic planning).
