The traffic police are adopting a novel measure to ensure that the younger generation strictly adheres to the helmet rule. They have been taking college students to the Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital (RGGGH) to show them the emergency room and the seriousness of injuries caused due to road accidents.
Over the last few weeks, they have taken students of MGR Janaki College for Women and Vivekananda College to the hospital.
“On an average, four fatal accidents take place in the city everyday. In at least three cases, the rider or the pillion rider was not wearing helmet. We have been imposing fines on motorists and advising them, but many refuse to adhere to the norms,” said a senior traffic police officer.
That is when they hit upon the idea of taking the students to the hospital. “Initially, we contacted the two colleges. They were taken in buses to the emergency, orthopaedic and neurology departments. The doctors also explained how not wearing helmets can cripple one’s life,” said K. Yuvaraj, Assistant Commissioner, Traffic Investigation, East. G. Damodaran, Assistant Professor, Tamil, and NSS programme officer, RKM Vivekananda College, said: “Such methods are better than just advising the students. They were happy to interact with the Police Commissioner,” he said.
“We are also thinking of taking those who do not wear helmets to the hospital to make them understand the seriousness of the issue,” said a senior traffic police officer.