More than 500 police officers and personnel wearing helmets led by City Police Commissioner A.K. Viswanathan took part in a helmet awareness rally in the city on Wednesday. The rally was flagged off by the Inspector General of Police (West Zone) K. Shankar from the Government Women’s Polytechnic College.
The rally was organised in line with the High Court direction making it mandatory for two-wheeler riders and pillion riders to wear helmets from July 1, or face legal action.
The motorists rode through Anna Statue and LIC Junction before concluding at VOC Park. Officers, who participated in the rally included Deputy Commissioners T.K. Rajasekaran (Traffic), R.V. Ramya Bharathi (Crime) and N. Sivaguru (Armed Reserve) and Assistant Commissioners (Traffic) Raj Khanna and S. Ramakrishnan.
Mr. Viswanathan said that the police took out the rally to set an example to public on the importance of wearing helmets. Traffic police personnel distributed pamphlets to motorists at important junctions in the city on wearing helmets. The city police have also erected helmet awareness boards and plan to erect more such boards soon.
Recently, Coimbatore District Police organised a helmet awareness campaign in all the 35 police stations on the outskirts of the city. The drive was led by respective divisional level and station level officers. Police personnel appreciated those wearing helmets and distributed sweets to them. Those without helmets were advised to wear helmets, considering their safety and not because it is mandatory, from July 1. Superintendent of Police M. Sudhakar took part in the drive at Perur.
Short film
Traffic constable ‘Rakki’ Mahesh alias G. Maheswaran of Race Course police station has taken a helmet awareness short film “Avar Varuvaaraa…???” The 12-minute film shows how helmets could save lives, or leave a lasting impact on the family when a person not wearing helmet gets killed or injured in an accident. The film was taken on the guidance of the Deputy Commissioner (Traffic) Rajasekaran.
