Puducherry: Puducherry Lt Governor Kiran Bedi plans to take up campaign urging people to wear helmets and orders were issued to implement the helmet wearing order to reduce fatalities on the road.
The Lt Governor's move came after the reports that 969 road accidents were reported in Puducherry this year among which 91 were fatal. According to a Raj Nivas press release, orders are to be issued to the Director General of Police (DGP) to implement helmet wearing order with immediate effect including pillion rider too as both have been losing lives. Urging government officials to take up helmet wearing matter seriously Ms Bedi also directed to ensure that laws are being followed strictly.
"The law is mandatory and gives no one a choice not to obey it or implement it. Non-compliance calls for Rs 100 fine for first offence and Rs 300 for second offence," she said.
The fine is under review of the Central government and is likely to be increased to Rs 1,000 for the first offence and suspension of driving licence on three violations.
The Lt Governor also appealed to the people to wear only a white or yellow coloured helmet and not black as black is not visible at night. The helmet should also have pasted fluorescent stickers to be pasted on the front, on the sides and back of the helmet, she said.
"Section 129 read with 177 of MV Act makes it mandatory for driver and pillion rider to wear a protective head gear conforming to Standards set by Bureau of Indian Standards," she said in her Whatsapp message.
The Lt Governor also urged the educational institutions to ensure that students wear helmets. As part of the campaign the Lt Governor presented helmet to S. Sekaran, executive engineer, Pondicherry municipality on Monday at Raj Nivas.
