The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Police in dilemma over helmet rule in rural areas

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jun 20, 2007
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Police in dilemma over helmet rule in rural areas

Staff Reporter

43 deaths in first quarter of this year

KANCHEEPURAM: The district police are in a quandary over enforcement of the helmet rule in rural areas from July 1, following a lack of clear direction from the government.

The number of road deaths involving motorcyclists in Kancheepuram police district hover around two or three perosn every week.

Enquiries reveal that majority of accidents have taken place in other district roads (ODR) and State Highways in the district in which the victims succumbed to head injuries. On the national highways, speeding was found to be the main cause of fatal accidents.

According to official data on road accidents involving two-wheelers, 96 persons either driving a motorcycle or travelling as pillion rider died in road accidents in the year 2005.

Though the number came down to 76 in the subsequent year, the first quarter of this year recorded 43 deaths.

A quick review of the accident details recorded up to May 2007 showed that the victims were taking up long distance journeys on motorcycle, without taking any precautionary measure.

A family of four persons on a 125-cc motorcycle from Kancheepuram to Chennai were killed after their vehicle was collided in an accident with another motorcycle near Wallajahbad.

A mason riding a 100-cc motorcycle from Poonamallee to Vellore along with his family members lost his life after colliding with a standing lorry near Sunguvarchatram on Chennai-Bangalore National Highway.

Engine seizure

Two youths proceeding to Tiruvannamalai from Chennai via Madurantakam on a 150-cc bike died of head injuries when their bike skidded and fell after the engine suddenly seized when it ran out of petrol. The tank had fuel in reserve, but the motorcyclist had failed to note that he was running out of petrol through the main inlet, sources said.

GST Road

Recently, two youths from Tiruvanmiyur in Chennai who drove to Madurantakam to attend a marriage on June 17 died on the spot after their motorcycle rammed into a stationary goods carrier on GST Road, Vadapathi near Potheri when they were returning home.

The helmet rule came as a blessing in disguise for the police, and the district police embarked upon a massive campaign to create awareness among motorcyclists on the advantages of wearing helmets.

However, the exercise, according to sources, had failed because the rule was not enforced vigorously.

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