No helmet? Get ready to be fined: Hyderabad traffic cops to begin special drive from tomorrow
A decision to this effect was taken by the traffic police following the deaths of three motorcyclists
By Sistla Dakshina Murthy Published on 4 Nov 2024 8:24 PM IST
Representational Image.
Hyderabad: The Traffic Police are going to launch a special drive against helmet-less driving and driving on the wrong side/route from Tuesday.
A decision to this effect was taken by the traffic police following the deaths of three motorcyclists in road accidents in the last three days under Hyderabad Police Commissionerate limits. Driving without a helmet is said to be the reason for the deaths.
Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic) P Vishwa Prasad said that on November 1, a 48-year-old rider succumbed to head injuries in a collision with an unidentified DCM vehicle at Alaska Junction, Goshamahal. Similarly, on November 2, a 25-year-old woman came under the wheels of an RTC bus and died on the spot near Tarnaka.
On November 3, a 49-year-old helmet-less rider succumbed to head injuries on NTR Marg. He was found to be driving the two-wheeler in the wrong direction and collided head-on with a car. In all these incidents, the victims were not wearing the protective headgear i.e., ISI Standard helmet, he said.
Motorcycle riders are most vulnerable to accidents
Elaborating, the ACP said, āMotorcyclists are the most vulnerable type of road users who are getting killed in road accidents. Head injury is the single most common fatal injury seen among the victims who have died in road accidents. This year so far, there have been 215 fatal road accidents ā 46 per cent of total fatalities ā out of which 100 victims were motorcyclists who were not wearing helmets.ā
Why wearing a helmet is crucial for riders?
Wearing a helmet reduces the risk of head injury by 70 per cent and fatality by 40 per cent, whereas not wearing a helmet increases the risk of fatal injuries by three times.
To prevent such tragic road accidents and ensure 100 per cent compliance with the helmet rule, the Hyderabad Traffic Police is launching a special drive from Tuesday against two-wheeler motorists who are not wearing helmets and also against motorists driving in the wrong route/direction of the traffic flow, Vishwa Prasad said.
Helmet-less riders will be fined and risk losing license
Informing that the measures are being taken by the police to educate commuters about the risks of helmet-less driving, the ACP said that Hyderabad Traffic Police has been conducting a number of traffic education and awareness camps to educate the commuters on traffic rules and safety.
The commuters are also being sensitised about road safety through the social media platforms.
The fines for breaking traffic laws will be:
- Driving without wearing a helmet is a violation under section 129/177 of the Motor Vehicle Act, 1988, and will attract a fine of Rs 200.
- Wrong side driving is punishable under sections 119/177 and 184 of the MV Act and will attract a penalty of Rs 2,000 besides suspension of driving licence for three months under section 19 of the Motor Vehicles Act.
Vigilant commuters are requested to inform traffic violations to Hyderabad Traffic Police through the Hyderabad Traffic Police Facebook, X (Twitter) and the traffic helpline (9010203626).
