Traffic Police in Pune launch a helmet drive, fine 4,717 riders in a day

While the announcement was made in Aurangabad on Wednesday, the traffic control branch of Pune police started a drive on Thursday to enforce helmet compulsion.

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Deputy Commissioner of Police (traffic) Sarang Awad said that till 6 pm, police fined about 4,717 people who were not wearing helmets while driving two-wheelers on different roads in Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad. Some of the two-wheeler riders were seen arguing with the traffic police on duty. But the cops continued to take action. The traffic police collected a total fine of Rs 4,67,900.

Awad said that traffic control branch has carried out such drives regularly in the past. The drive has only been intensified now. According to Awad, last year, the traffic control branch has fined an average of 800 people per day for not wearing helmets.

“There is a Supreme Court ruling making it mandatory for two-wheeler riders to use helmets. It is for the safety of riders. We appeal to the citizens to use helmets. We have also asked the police to wear helmets while riding two wheelers,” said K K Pathak.

Meanwhile, as per the figures obtained from traffic police, in the year 2015, there have been 240 deaths of two wheeler riders in road accidents. Of them, only one victim was wearing a helmet.

Also, in 2014, of the 219 two wheeler riders who died in road mishaps, only one person was found wearing a helmet. All other victims were riding without helmets. Police say that wearing helmets may have saved their lives.