Hosapete
A special helmet awareness drive was conducted at Puneeth Rajkumar Circle in Hosapete taluk of Vijayanagara district, where officials and the judiciary jointly urged the public to strictly follow road safety rules.
The programme was led under the guidance of Dr. P. Jahnavi, with District Judge K.M. Rajashekar and S. Raghavan participating in the awareness initiative. Police personnel stopped two-wheeler riders who were not wearing helmets and distributed helmets free of cost to a few individuals as part of the campaign.
Addressing the gathering, District Judge K.M. Rajashekar stressed the importance of wearing helmets, saying that while injuries to other parts of the body can often be treated, head injuries can be fatal and may lead to loss of life. He urged both the police department and the public to make helmet usage a strict habit.
Officials announced that a 15-day awareness period has been launched in the district to educate riders about helmet safety. During this period, violators will not be fined immediately. Instead, they will be asked to purchase helmets equivalent to the fine amount, encouraging compliance through awareness rather than punishment.
After the awareness phase, strict enforcement of fines will be implemented for those violating the rule. Authorities said the initiative is aimed at reducing road accidents and saving lives through behavioural change rather than fear of penalties alone.
The campaign has received positive public response, with many appreciating the focus on education and safety. Officials also appealed to citizens to cooperate with traffic rules and understand that road safety begins with individual responsibility.
The programme concluded with a strong message that wearing a helmet is not just a rule, but a life-saving habit.
