From Thursday, the City Police will initiate action against pillion riders not wearing helmets, apart from against motorbike riders who violate Section 129 of the Motor Vehicle Act, which makes it mandatory for every person on a motorbike to wear protective headgear.
The decision to implement the helmet rule for pillion riders as well, which was already approved by the High Court in September, came in the wake of the death of an 11-year-old boy at Pettah late on Tuesday, City Commissioner H. Venkatesh said.
Pointing out that the boy, Martin Rahul Raj, was riding pillion with his mother when the accident occurred, Mr. Venkatesh said there were several incidents in the recent past wherein accidents had turned fatal for pillion riders who were not wearing any sort of protective headgear. Further, he said, there was no logic in only one person wearing helmet, when the chances of being injured were there for everyone on the vehicle in case of an accident.
Curbing drunk driving
According to the Commissioner, the special drive from Thursday would not be just for ensuring helmets for every two-wheeler rider, but to curb drunk driving and to check on the increasing number of complaints over reckless driving by heavy vehicles as well.
The drive would ‘strictly’ ensure adherence to the helmet rule and take ‘stringent’ action against drunk driving, apart from continuing to regulate entry of heavy vehicles, especially tipper lorries into the city limits from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. and from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.. Apart from this, the City police are also planning an awareness campaign on safe driving and general traffic safety, involving heavy vehicle drivers and driving licence applicants.
The attempt to streamline traffic and parking on MG Road, which is turning out to be quite successful, is also likely to be extended to other main roads in the city, with a focus on initiating action against drivers who parked their vehicles haphazardly and triggered traffic blocks.
