Police crack the whip on helmet-less pillion riders

With helmets being made mandatory for pillion riders of motorcycles too, the police have launched a crackdown against those violating the rule.

Even while trying to raise awareness of the need for pillion riders to wear helmets, the police are booking cases for violations. The Tiruchi City Police and the Tiruchi Rural Police issued separate press releases a few days ago making it clear that action as per law would be initiated against rider and pillion rider if they violated the helmet rule.

Consequent to the announcements, the law enforcers embarked on awareness campaigns alongside enforcing the helmet rule for pillion rider as well.

Police sources said that 1,950 cases have been booked against pillion riders alone in the district since August 23.

The number of such cases booked was more in the limits of Tiruchi City Police as compared to Tiruchi Rural Police. According to police sources, 1,252 pillion riders were booked for not adhering to the helmet rule from August 23 to 27 within the city limits which has 14 police stations.

The number of cases booked against pillion riders alone in Tiruchi Rural Police limits were 698 from August 23 to 29. The helmet rule for rider and pillion rider was being enforced with a view to curbing fatalities in road accidents, say the police.

In Tiruchi city alone, the number of fatal accident reported from January to August 27 this year was 47, the fatalities were 48 with the number of injured persons being 443, police statistics reveal.

Instructions have been given to the Deputy Superintendents of Police of the five sub divisions falling under the jurisdiction of Tiruchi Rural Police to carry out awareness campaigns in their respective sub division to drive home the message of helmet rule to rider and pillion rider.

Similar campaigns were being conducted at the police station level in Tiruchi Rural Police limits accounting for 30 police stations. The Tiruchi Rural Police is taking this message to the educational institutions as well, said Superintendent of Police Ziaul Haque.

Source