In their continued bid to create awareness among the citizens on the advantages of wearing helmets while driving two-wheelers, the Traffic Police attached to various Police Stations in the city on Saturday took out an awareness rally during which they distributed handbills containing public-interest messages.

City Police Commissioner Dr. M.A. Saleem, who flagged off the awareness rally by releasing pigeons and balloons from Kote Anjaneya Swamy Temple, said that most of the two-wheeler riders who died in road accidents were found riding without helmets which prompted the Police to launch the awareness drive.

Stating that though the Government had passed an order making wearing of helmets while riding two-wheelers compulsory in the State on Nov. 1, 2006, he regretted that only about 15% of two-wheeler riders in city were following the rule.

As many as 50 two-wheeler riders who were riding without helmets had died in the past two years, he said and urged two-wheeler riders to compulsorily wear helmets, failing which they would be penalised.

The rally consisting of over 100 helmet-wearing Traffic Police personnel on two-wheelers, took out a rally from Kote Anjaneya Swamy temple at the north gate of Mysore Palace, passed through Clock Tower, Sayyaji Rao road, Govt. Ayurveda Hospital Circle, Irwin road, Sheshadri Iyer road, Vinoba road, Devaraj Urs road and culminated at Hardinge Circle.

The other programmes chalked out are a publicity drive by putting up hoardings, banners and placards at significant junctions and talks by experts at schools and colleges.

After the extensive education campaign, strict enforcement of helmet rule will also be taken up through prosecution of two-wheeler riders who do not wear helmets while driving.

A press release from the Police Department states that nearly 45% of the victims of road accidents are generally two-wheeler riders and pillion riders.

The release also states that according to Rule 129 of Indian Motor Vehicles Act 1988, wearing of protective headgear, which means every person driving or riding (otherwise than in a side car, on a motor-cycle of any class or description) shall, while in a public place, wear protective headgear conforming to the standards of Bureau of Indian Standards and this section does not apply to a person who is a Sikh, if he is while driving or riding on the motor-cycle, in a public place, wearing a turban.

“Protective headgear” means a helmet which, (a) By virtue of its shape, material and construction, would reasonably be expected to afford to the person driving or riding on a motor-cycle a degree of protection from injury in the event of an acci- dent; and (b) is securely fastened to the head of the wearer by means of straps or other fastenings provided on the headgear.

DCP K.P. Bheemaiah, ACP Vishnuvardhan, Inspectors Susheela and Mahesh Kumar, SI Ravikumar and others from Traffic and Crime Departments took part in the awareness drive.

The following table provided by the Police Department gives information about deaths and injuries of two-wheeler riders and pillion riders in Mysore city:

Courtesy : Star Of Mysore