Andhra Pradesh: Helmet rule ignored by many

Guntur: Lack of response to awareness campaigns about helmet-wearing has led the police department to start cracking the whip against violators. 

The violators include the police themselves. Cops have started booking cases against policemen who are violating the helmet rule. They are also denying entry to bikers entering district police offices without helmets. 

Orders have been issued to petrol refilling stations not to sell petrol to two- wheeler riders, without helmets. But no one is implementing this order. 

The traffic police registered 300 cases against policemen for violation of the helmet rule. 

The traffic police have started a special drive from October 1, against helmet rule violations, in Guntur city and have installed a check post at the District Police Office, to keep the cops in line.  

According to the traffic police department, 1,800 cases were booked against helmet rule violators, of which 154 policemen are defaulters.  

Guntur Urban SP Ch. Vijaya Rao issued  ‘no-entry’ orders to all bikers without  helmets, including policemen, into the DPO. 

The “no helmet-no petrol” is still not being followed by the public. Frequent arguments are being witnssed between those filling the tanks and motorists on the issue. 

Commuters J. Anirudh, P. Venkateswara Rao and others said the government is collecting huge taxes on petrol, tyres, tubes, engine oil, spares and at toll gates, but the government has never taken up repairing of roads. Motorists said they were not against the helmet rule, but it is of no use, with all the potholes and bad roads.