Masks on, helmets vanish as pandemic fear grows

Nagpur: While Covid-19 fear has made most motorists start wearing mask, another vital safety gear — helmet — remains the least priority. This is evident from the data of Nagpur city traffic police, which, in August alone, penalized 646 motorists for not wearing mask, while 14,000 two-wheeler riders were caught without helmet.
Traffic activists stressed that the administration needs to be strict with people who are wearing only mask and not helmet.
Traffic police started penalizing motorists for not wearing mask since July 21. Till September 1, the police have caught around 1,146 motorists without mask and collected Rs5.7 lakh fine from them. In July and August, the traffic police fined 14,806 and 13,988 two-wheeler riders without helmet and collected Rs20.1 lakh and Rs13.5 lakh fine, respectively.
TOI spoke to a few two-wheeler riders at some of the city’s busiest squares including Variety Square and Agrasen Square and Indora Chowk. TOI also spotted that most motorists were wearing mask in North and Central Nagpur as they considered it the best way of fighting coronavirus. However, many two-wheeler riders ignored the helmet, which is also a vital safety gear.
When asked why they ignored the helmet, motorists presented lame excuses. Wearing both mask and helmet is very suffocating, they said. “As I travel for work from Shanti Nagar to Hingna daily, it is just not possible to wear both,” said Mahesh Thakur, a resident of Shanti Nagar. About the importance of helmet, he said, “I know it is a safety measure, but wearing both is not possible when one has to drive such long distances.”
Even the traffic police and NMC’s nuisance detection squad seemed keen on penalizing motorists not wearing mask than two-wheeler riders without helmet. “During Covid times, wearing helmet has taken a backseat, while riders are giving preference to using mask only,” said Shailendra Shukla, a resident of Nara.
“As the main focus is on mask because of the Covid situation, most people wear only the faceshield and not the helmet,” admitted a traffic cop deployed on Central Avenue.
However, there are people like Sudhir Pohane who strictly wears both helmet and mask ever since the corona scare began. “Wearing both — helmet and mask — is for our own safety. Ignoring any one of them can cost our life. I am doing it for my own safety. Whether the police impose fine or not, I ride only after wearing both helmet and mask,” said Pohane, an insurance company professional.