Wear helmets for your safety, police tell riders

Motorcyclists must wear helmets for their own safety, Director General and Inspector General of Police Lalrokhuma Pachuau said on Saturday.

“A majority of motorcyclists wear helmets fearing action by the police. They wear helmet when they approach traffic junctions where police are present and remove it once they pass such junctions,” the DG and IGP said. He was speaking at the launch of a campaign for strict enforcement of the helmet rule in the City.

City Police Commissioner B G Jyothiprakash Mirji said more than 45 per cent of the two-wheeler riders involved in accidents were not wearing helmets and lost their lives. He said as many as 189 motorcyclists have died in road accidents in the past two years on account of not wearing helmets.

“Helmet is one of the most effective safety devices for two-wheeler riders. In case of accidents, helmets reduce the chances of serious head injuries by 80 per cent,” Mirji added.

A procession of 600 bikes was taken out in different directions of City with riders wearing helmets. The procession from Cubbon Park culminated at Trinity Circle, while four others, each with 100 bikes went up to Nagavara via Tannery Road, Jayanagar and Tilak Nagar, up to Kengeri on Mysore Road and up to Sunkadakatte on Magadi Road. Banners, hoardings and placards conveying the importance of wearing helmets will be installed at vantage points. Traffic experts will deliver talks in colleges.