Police crack whip to ensure bike riders wear helmet

BALLARI

As people continue to care two hoots about the helmet rule, leading to an increase in road fatalities, police have now started cracking the whip. Superintendent of Police Dr VJ Shobharani told, “People in city were under the impression that they were exempted from wearing helmets while riding two-wheelers due to adverse climatic conditions, particularly high summer temperatures.” “Two wheeler riders wouldn't even mind paying fines for violating the helmet rule. Now, we've come up with a strict policy to enforce the rule, making it mandatory for two-wheeler riders to wear a helmet,” the police official said. She further said certain traffic junctions have been chosen, where two-wheeler riders have to stop compulsorily so that they can be educated on the importance of wearing a helmet. “If we start imposing fines all through the district at one go, people may risk their lives in trying to escape from being fined. So, we have chosen specific circles,” she explained.

The SP pointed out that this year, until April, there were 103 road fatalities in the district. Most of those who died were riding two-wheelers without a helmet. This is quite a high number given that in entire 2024, 227 road fatalities were reported. To enforce discipline, police fined 13,196 riders in 2022, 6,971 in 2023, 6,557 in 2024, and 395 persons till April 2025.

However, despite imposing fines, people continue to disregard the helmet rule, risking their lives and those of others, the police officer added. “100 helmets sponsored by local organisations were distributed among the public to raise awareness and encourage riders to use a helmet. We will also hold a meeting with government officers, instructing them to wear a helmet compulsorily,” she said.