Times
of India: Nagpur: Saturday, 29 November 2014.
The traffic
department claims that wearing helmet while riding a two-wheeler is compulsory
on Nagpur roads since 2005. Replying to an RTI query by activist Abhay
Kolarkar, deputy commissioner of police (traffic) Bharat Tangde's office in
Civil Lines gave reference of a notification issued by Maharashtra home
ministry on January 17, 2005 that says, 'every person driving or riding' a
two-wheeler must wear protective headgear under Motor Vehicles Act, enacted in
1988.
Traffic cops
claimed the department frequently penalized motorists for not wearing helmets.
This year (until October 25), the department has reportedly caught 714
two-wheeler riders for riding without headgears. The statistics also includes
166 police personnel, who too were booked for the same.
Traffic
activists ridiculed the traffic police claim. "With a token action, the
cops concluded everybody had begun wearing helmets. But, there is no
implementation on the ground," they said.
The law is
being adhered to in most metros though the traffic department claims there is
lack of knowledge and cooperation from the people to make it mandatory in
Nagpur.
The drive
against jumping red lights, parking vehicles on wrong side is still on but
action against two-wheeler riders without helmet that results in most deaths on
city roads has inexplicably stopped. The cops said they could not enforce the
helmet rule due to staff crunch.
Senior
traffic cops could not explain how they found staff for booking traffic
violators but not those violating the helmet rule. They also could not say why
saving lives was less important than taking action against wrong parking of
vehicles. Traffic cops, however, claimed the office frequently carried out
drive for helmets. "Along with the RTO, we are creating awareness among
two-wheeler riders on the issue," said a senior traffic cop. But there is
no evidence of any awareness on the streets.
The non-sustainable
drive was just to show the government that the enforcing agency was serious
about enforcing rules, claimed Kolarkar. He claimed traffic police's
responsibility was also to ensure motorists followed rules while driving.
"Instead
of resorting to sporadic checks, there must be a process to book the culprits
then and there. At present, only a nominal fine is imposed. Why not impose a
heavy fine from such reckless two-wheeler drivers? After all it is to safeguard
their own life and in larger interest of society," said traffic expert and
secretary of International Society for Road Transport and Safety (ISRTS),
Nagpur Tushar Mandlekar.
He pointed
out Motor Vehicle Act clearly stated use of helmet was compulsory for
two-wheeler riders just like possessing driving licence. Interestingly, the
cops regularly penalized drivers for riding without licence, but turned a blind
eye towards motorists riding without helmet, Mandlekar said.
"Had the
helmet rule been compulsory, the 48-year-old lawyer Vijaya Bode, crushed under
the wheels of a bus recently, could be saved," he pointed out. Likewise,
many more people were losing their lives in road mishaps.
Even the HC
had directed the police to enforce the rule but the police, especially the
traffic police, failed to comply. By not enforcing helmet rules, city police
chief KK Pathak faces contempt charges for disobeying the HC and even Supreme
Court orders.
Sudhir
Pohane, related to the automobile industry, said helmets should be compulsory
for two-wheeler riders. "It is a mark of responsible driving. It is not
only for the rider's safety but also for the safety of others," he said.
Motorists
make all sorts of excuses for not using helmets. "I am using a helmet
since late '90s and at that time it was not even compulsory. Now I have become
so accustomed to using it that I cannot ride without a helmet," said
Pohane. Many riders using helmets for years, experience other benefits too.
"It protects you from noise, pollution, rain, sun and of course accident,"
he claimed.
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