Parmesh S Jain
“using sub standard helmet is considered as no helmet”
On Saturday the city traffic police have launched an awareness drive on ISI helmet which according to the police can minimise fatal accidents and death rates.
A student jointly conducted by the officials of NIMHANS and the city traffic police at 15 selected locations across the city revealed that only 44 per cent of the motorists use ISI helmet , while the rest of them use sub standard helmets just to avoid penalty from the police.
The study also revealed that 70 per cent of pillion riders use helmets while the rest wither avoid wearing or uses sub standard helmets, B R Ravikanthe Gowda , joint commissioner of Police, said .
Since the last 20 years the traffic police managed to get the number of helmet wearing riders from 5 per cent to 92 per cent through strict enforcement.
However the out of the 92 per cent of riders with helmets only 44 per cent of them wear ISI helmets and follow the rules by strapping them.
From Saturday the traffic police have been directed to educate the motorist on wearing ISI helmets which is as per the section 129 of the Indian Motor vehicle Act.
After awareness campaign, the traffic police will be going to enforce the standard helmet rules strictly.rider wearing a Sub standard helmet will be considered as helmet less ride,Mr.Gowda , said in his statement.
Using standard helmets and strapping them will help safe riding and avod fatalities in case of any eventuality, Anilkumar Grampurohith, Inspector Chickpete traffic said in a awareness video.
He even said People spend thousands of rupees buying two wheelers but become careless when buying helmets.
The helmet use is not to avoid penalty and traffic police but for the safety of the riders, he added.
The traffic police are also going to write to all the DCPs to ensure that even policemen wearing half helmets be replaced with standard helmets. The campaign is going to start within the department , he added .
