Automobile accessories outlets in districts, especially the helmet shops—both branded showrooms and roadside vends—saw a sudden surge in customers on Monday, as motorists throng the places to buy helmet as wearing it while driving will be made mandatory from Wednesday. Car owners too will have to fasten their seat belts while driving, failing which they will attract a penalty of Rs.100.
Though the enforcement commences from Wednesday, many riders in Vijayawada were seen wearing helmets on Monday, an unlike phenomenon in the city. However, many found fault with the officials for imposing the rules without any prior intimation.
Those who went for a last-minute buying of helmets had to shell out more than the MRPs. “Taking advantage of the situation, shop owners are demanding Rs.800 to Rs.1,000 for each helmet, which were available for a lesser price just a few days ago,” fumed Manohar, a two-wheeler owner at Besant Road. On the other hand, officials defended the move saying that since last two months, several awareness programmes and campaigns were conducted on the importance of using helmets and fastening seat belts. The government has taken this State-wide initiative of making wearing helmet mandatory, said RTO M. Purendra.
There are close to 54,000 cars and 4.1 lakh two-wheelers in Vijayawada and a few motorists contest that the traffic scenario in the city does not mandate two-wheelers riders to use helmets. “There are traffic signals at regular intervals and we can hardly drive beyond 40 kmph speed. So wearing helmet is not so necessary,” says Rakesh, a private employee.
Everyday, around 450 vehicles, including two-wheelers, are registered at various RTOs in Krishna district. In their efforts to curb accidents, officials are also conducting special drives, including drunk driving in the city but cases of motorists succumbing to head injuries in accidents are very few, says an official.
