A man dressed as Yama, the lord of death, walked amid busy traffic on the main streets in Kalaburagi recently and stopped helmetless two-wheeler riders.
Revansidda Swami, a student from Humnabad taluk in Bidar district, joined hands with the district police to implement an innovative idea. He dressed up as Yama to raise awareness on road safety and traffic rules. “My aim is to tell people that if they do not wear their helmets or seatbelts, Yama will take their lives,” he said.
As the police have kicked off an awareness campaign to sensitise people about traffic rules and safety norms with an aim to promote safe driving, helmet vendors have recorded an increase in the overall sale of helmets in the past five days.
Faqruddin, a helmet vendor, said the overall sale of helmets stood at four pieces a month. “In the last four days, I have sold around 90 helmets. The sale will further increase by this week,” he said.
Good business
Since branded helmets at outlets are expensive, people are more inclined to buying from street vendors. While good quality headgear that adheres to ISI norms costly above ₹500 mostly, street vendors have been selling helmets costing between ₹300 and ₹650.
“A two-wheeler rider, on condition of anonymity, said that though the decision of the traffic police to push for mandatory use of helmets has found a positive response with vendors, we are still apprehensive about the success of the new concept, all we need is to not get caught getting and fined,” he added.
