After the Madurai city traffic police announced compulsory wearing of helmets by two-wheeler riders from April 1, a little over 80 per cent of the motorists obeyed the direction, said police officers here on Saturday.
While thanking the motorists for their cooperation, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic), A.G. Babu, told reporters that the intention of police was not to penalise or collect fine, but to ensure safety of the people.
In the recent past, at least 50 per cent of fatal cases reported in the city were due to non-wearing of helmets. Moreover, the Supreme Court directive was very clear in this regard and the police had the duty to implement it, he noted.
The police teams were deployed to check from morning at 14 points.
While riders were seen wearing the helmets, pillions were not wearing it, a police officer at Goripalayam junction said.
When civilians were obeying the rule by wearing the headgear or remitted the fines, it was embarrassing to spot many police personnel (in plain clothes) not wearing the helmet and riding the vehicles.
Only at Tallakulam junction, the police stopped their own colleagues and imposed fines for violation, while it was not the case in other junctions, traffic police admitted.
However, Commissioner Shailesh Kumar Yadav appealed to the police not to harass any riders, but explain the need for wearing the helmet.
He orally instructed all the police riding two-wheelers to wear the headgear, an officer who had attended a meeting, said and added that on the first day alone, 3,300 cases were booked and fines collected from the violators.
