Helmet rule can bring down number of fatal accidents, says Narayanasamy

Feeling the pulse: Chief Minister V. Narayanasamy inspecting the medical camp for drivers and conductors held as part of the Road Safety Week in Puducherry on Monday. (From left) DGP S.K. Gautam, Chief Secretary Ashwani Kumar, Transport Minister M.O.H.F. Shahjahan and Speaker V. Vaithilingam are seen.

Feeling the pulse: Chief Minister V. Narayanasamy inspecting the medical camp for drivers and conductors held as part of the Road Safety Week in Puducherry on Monday. (From left) DGP S.K. Gautam, Chief Secretary Ashwani Kumar, Transport Minister M.O.H.F. Shahjahan and Speaker V. Vaithilingam are seen.   | Photo Credit: S_S_KUMAR

However, pleads helplessness in introducing the rule citing strong opposition from the public

Efforts by the Transport department, including mitigation measures at accident black spots on Puducherry-Cuddalore Main Road, Marapalam junction, Kamaraj Salai Saram bridge junction, Ariyankuppam bridge, Thavalakuppam bridge and Madagadipet have brought down accident rates in Puducherry by 12%.

The number of accidents came down to 1,767 last year compared to 2016 reported in the previous year. The number of fatalities came down to 215 in 2017 against 226 in the previous year.

With the intention to reduce the number of accidents, more so fatal cases, the department launched a week-long programme “Road-Safety-Life Safety” targeting particularly young two-wheeler riders.

Setting the tone for the week-long programme, Chief Minister V. Narayanasamy at the inaugural function on Monday said the government wanted to make helmets compulsory but could not do so because of strong opposition from the public. Most fatal cases in Puducherry involved two-wheeler riders and many a life could have been saved had the rider been wearing helmet, he added.

Sustained campaign

The Transport department and the traffic police should launch a sustained campaign to create awareness on the benefits of wearing helmet. He urged the private bus owners to ask their drivers not to overspeed.

Speaker V. Vaithilingam said the best way to create awareness among the youth was to show them the plight of the maimed accidents victims.

The difficulties faced by families of accident victims should be highlighted to schoolchildren so that they understand the dangers of rash and negligent driving. Sustained campaign would help inculcate the habit of wearing helmet, he said.

The department lined up many road safety programmes, including helmet rally, street drama, wall paintings, awareness programmes among children, drawing competition, car rally for driving schools, training for drivers and autorickshaw rally during the course of the week.

Minister for Transport M.O.H.F. Shahjahan, Chief Secretary Ashwani Kumar, Director-General of Police S.K. Gautam, transport secretary H.P.S Saran, and Senior Superintendent of Police (Law and Order) Apoorva Gupta were present.