Transport dept to strictly enforce usage of helmets

Patna: In a bid to reduce the rising number of road accidents and fatalities involving two-wheelers, the state transport department has decided to strictly enforce the wearing of helmets.
Transport secretary, Sanjay Kumar Agarwal, has directed officials to launch a special campaign across all districts to increase the helmet usage by two-wheelers and promote road safety measures.According to Agarwal, last year 3,203 two-wheeler drivers lost their lives in road accidents, while 2,247 people suffered serious injuries. “Out of these deaths, 882 two-wheeler drivers and 507 pillion riders were not putting on their helmets at the time of the accident,” he said.

The secretary said that road accident statistics clearly indicate that the majority of fatalities occurred as the motorcycle drivers were not wearing the helmets. “Driving without a helmet can lead to severe head injuries, which can prove fatal. With this in mind, the govt is taking steps to strictly enforce the mandatory wearing of helmets,” he said.
Agarwal has directed district magistrates (DMs) and district transport officers (DTOs) to actively promote helmet use in their respective areas and implement measures to ensure compliance. “Various activities, such as helmet-checking campaigns, public awareness and information, education, and communication (IEC) programmes, will be conducted in the districts to educate people about the importance of wearing helmets,” he said.
The secretary added: “It is mandatory for both the drivers and the pillion riders to wear helmets while riding a two-wheeler. Despite this, many people do not follow this rule, due to which their lives are at risk. If helmets are worn regularly, many deaths could have been avoided.”
To enforce the rules, a special helmet-checking drive will be carried out by the transport and traffic police in all districts of the state. During this drive, the traffic police teams will check two-wheeler riders on the roads and impose fines on those found without helmets. The campaign aims to prioritize road safety and inculcate the habit of following rules by the public, said Agarwal.