Published On : Wed, Mar 2nd, 2016

No sparing of violators, helmet is must at all cost to save lives: DCP Tangde

Advertisement

HelmetsNagpur: The city police have started ensuring the High Court’s directive of making wearing of helmets compulsory for two-wheeler riders from March 1, 2016. While many two-wheeler riders have already supported the move by wearing the protective headgear, many have found various ways to circumvent the rule.

While speaking to Nagpur Today, Deputy Commissioner of Police Bharat Tangde said that whenever fatal incidents occur that involve deaths of youngsters in the city many citizens are prompt to point fingers at the Traffic Department’s lackadaisical attitude in ensure accident free roads. Once again when the Traffic Department is adhering to the High Court’s directive to ensure wearing of helmets by two-wheeler riders, many organizations are trying to get exemptions from the rule.

Speaking to Nagpur Today, DCP Traffic B Tangde said that Section 129 of Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, would be invoked against violators to begin with. Driving without helmet would invite a fine of Rs 100 till March 15, 2016. Thereafter, a fine of Rs 600 would be recovered from the offenders.

He said that the High Court has given exemptions only to Sikh men with Pagadis. He added that some people from a particular religious group had approached him and said that they are not supposed to remove their religious head-gear so should be exempted from wearing helmets.

Police cought without helmet bike rider (12)
Helmet is one of the most important items of personal protective equipment used by motorcycle riders for protection against the hazards connected with driving on roads. A standard has been framed to cover provisions of protective helmets for everyday use by the motorcycle riders.

The protection given by wearing of the helmets for which requirements have been laid in this standard is not complete and wearing of the helmet may not prevent injury and/or death in severe accidents. The Deputy Commissioner of Police Bharat Tangde said that half helmets (better known as factory or mining helmets) are not valid or permissible helmets for two-wheelers. Only helmets approved under ISI-4151 is approved. These helmets cover the head completely.

Police cought without helmet bike rider (8)
Helmets most effective to curb fatalities: WHO
As per the World Health Organization (WHO), two-wheelers riders account for more than 50% of those injured or killed on the roads. It has suggested wearing a helmet as the single most effective way of reducing head injuries and fatalities resulting from motorcycle and bicycle crashes. “Wearing a helmet has been shown to decrease the risk and severity of injuries among motorcyclists by about 70%, the likelihood of death by almost 40% and substantially reduce the cost of healthcare associated with such cases,” WHO stated.

Police cought without helmet bike rider (2)
Police cought without helmet bike rider (11)
Police cought without helmet bike rider (10)
Police cought without helmet bike rider (6)
Police cought without helmet bike rider (7)
Police cought without helmet bike rider (5)
Police cought without helmet bike rider (8)
Police cought without helmet bike rider (4)
Police cought without helmet bike rider (3)
Police cought without helmet bike rider (1)
Police cought without helmet bike rider (9)
Police cought without helmet bike rider
Police cought without helmet bike rider (13)

By Samuel Gunasekharn

Pics by Vinay Nimgade