The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Police deny selective penalising over helmet rule

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Sep 14, 2007
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Police deny selective penalising over helmet rule

Staff Reporter

— Photo: K. Pichumani

safety first: Police want two-wheeler riders to comply with the helmet rule.

CHENNAI: The blow hot and cold approach of the police towards the wearing of helmet rule has been criticised by motorists and activists alike.

Several motorists have alleged selective enforcement of the rule. But, police personnel insist that all would be well if motorists abide by the rule, putting safety ahead of reported discomfort. According to official records, in the last six weeks over one lakh persons have been fined for not wearing helmets.

The Commissioner of Police, G. Nanchil Kumaran, said that motorists should realise the importance of wearing helmets. Instead of giving room to being fined by the police, they should voluntarily wear the headgear. He added that there were not enough policemen to book each and every motorist who violated the rule.

A traffic inspector on duty at Nandanam Junction said it would be better if motorists understood the consequences of not wearing helmets. Another officer at Koyambedu Junction said that it was not right to say that the police registered cases only against some people.

Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Sunil Kumar hoped that the people would cooperate with the police in implementing the helmet rule.

A road safety activist said that wearing helmets voluntarily would show the responsibility of each motorist when it comes to practising safe driving. Wearing it for the sake of the police would only reflect their nonchalant attitude. Traffic police said that motorists should wear only approved helmets. Many motorists who were seen wearing unapproved helmets were instructed to wear approved ones. Taking advantage of the demand, local merchants have been seen selling unapproved ones along the roadsides.

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