Southern States - Andhra Pradesh-Hyderabad   

Traffic police, RTA in hard drive

By Marri Ramu

HYDERABAD April 10. With just five days left to enforce the `compulsory' helmet rule and little rise in the number of helmet-wearing vehicle drivers, the traffic police and Road Transport Department officials have decided to undertake a campaign to enlighten people about the helmet rule.

However, they are non-committal about extension of the deadline saying "how can we extend it when the law is already there.'' The compulsory helmet rule for the two-wheeler driver and the pillion rider was incorporated in the Motor Vehicle Act. But, it was made optional by the State Government when the Act came into force a few years ago.

Officials plunged into action to implement the rule with the Andhra Pradesh High Court recently declaring the option given by Government ultra vires following a public interest litigation. Keeping in view several practical problems like inadequate stocks in the market and ignorance of vehicle drivers about the rule, the authorities fixed April 15 as deadline.

But, officials are in a dilemma as there is `not much visible change' in the number of helmet-wearing drivers even after the apex court's judgment. "We can enforce a law if the violators are in minority. But, in this case, they are in majority making it difficult for us to implement it,'' an official says.

Then, what about the deadline of April 15 set earlier? Officials conceded that though there was some increase in the percentage of helmet-wearing drivers, none of the pillion riders was seen wearing a helmet. The RTA Joint Commissioner, C.L.N. Gandhi, maintained that there was no relaxation for the pillion rider.

``Somehow, the compulsory helmet rule does not seem to have sunk into the minds of people. We want to step the campaign and soon we will implement the rule strictly," says the Additional Commissioner (Traffic), D.T. Nayak. All the policemen have been asked to buy helmets and the charges would be reimbursed by the department.

A fine of Rs. 100 would be imposed on the violators of the rule for first time and Rs. 200 if he or she is caught second time.

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