Putting the brakes on mishaps

CURIOUS ONLOOKERS gathered outside the Traffic Police Joint Commissioner's Office in Vepery early on Wednesday. The scene resembled a film shooting, with scores of police personnel dressed in bright red rally uniform seated on motorcycles.

Some distance away, an expert was giving instructions over a public address system on the correct seating posture, head position etc. The police personnel seated on their bikes corrected themselves as and when something was said.

The programme was part of a road safety promotion campaign by Hero Honda to provide safety driving tips to traffic police personnel. The instructors have been given special training by the company in Japan.

The various techniques of applying brakes was demonstrated to the participants. It took about 25 metres for a vehicle travelling at a speed of 60 kms to come to a halt. The participants were advised to apply all three brakes- engine off, front brake and rear brake - as the correct technique to bring the vehicle to a halt.

The Joint Commissioner of Police Mr. R. Sekar, inaugurating the programme said that these programmes were the need of the hour with so many high speed motorcycles being marketed. Statistics also revealed that two- wheeler riders were the most prone to road accidents. About 65,000 persons were killed and over two lakh injured every year in road accidents in the country.

The Joint Commissioner (Transport) Mr. K. Balashanmugham who presided, outlined the importance of safe driving and urged young motorists to observe road rules.

The programme is being sponsored by Hero Honda as part of its ``We Care'' programme.

By S. Shivakumar

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