VISAKHAPATNAM: Giving top priority to traffic regulation and road safety to save the lives of the motorists, Vizag city traffic police has started imposing fine on two-wheeler riders if their pillion riders are not wearing helmets. As a first step to sending a strong message to two-wheeler riders to create awareness on the need of wear head-guards for pillion riders, the cops have penalising students, youngsters and others for their pillion riders not wearing the helmets. Use of helmets has already been made compulsory for two-wheeler riders in the city. However, the cops noticed that in some road accidents while the riders escaped death due to wearing head guard, the pillion riders lost their lives for not wearing the protective head guard.
Despite a number of preventive measures initiated by the Traffic Police Department, two-wheelers continue to lead in the number of road accidents in the city. Of the total of 237 accidents recorded from January to February in 2018, two-wheeler drivers were responsible for 76 road accidents. In two-wheeler road accidents about 19 people died and as many as 67 were injured, while in four-wheeler road accidents, six died and 59 were injured said ADCP (Traffic), M. Ramesh Kumar.
“Since wearing a helmet is mandatory for pillion riders under Section 129 of Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, we have launched imposing fine ranging from Rs 100 to Rs 200 for bike riders without head guard of their pillion riders. Now, our focus is to catch the youngsters and students, who have been ignoring our instructions. Later we will also sensitise middle-aged people on use of helmets for both riders and pillion riders,” said Ramesh Kumar.
