TEAM HERALD
PONDA: Even as efforts are being made to emphasise the importance and safety of using helmets while riding on two-wheelers, there has been staggering rise in offences pertaining to riding without helmets in Ponda taluka.
The Ponda Traffic Cell (PTC) booked nearly 2,000 more cases of two-wheeler riders riding without helmet in 2013, as compared to 2012.
In 2013, a total of 6,993 riders were penalised for not wearing a helmet while riding, thereby collecting fines of about Rs 6,99,500, as against 5,087 cases in 2012, where the PTC collected fines to the tune of Rs 5,08,800.
According to information, the State government had planned to make helmets compulsory on every road, after a number of deaths involving two-wheelers were reportedly due to head injuries on the internal roads.
Two-wheeler motorists tend to ride without helmets,, citing inconvenience especially during their visit to the market, but PTC Inspector Nilesh Dhaigodkar says helmets play a vital role in saving lives.
“Helmets should be compulsory as it can save you from fatal injuries during an accident. We have been undertaking various drives to make aware road users as well citizens as to how important it is to wear helmet while riding. Knowledge on various other road safety measures are also being given to the people in the taluka,” said PI Dhaigodkar.
Besides riding without helmets, the second most common offence recorded by the PTC was dangerous parking 6,551 cases (Rs 6,55,500 in fines) were registered in 2013, as opposed to 4,454 cases and Rs 4,46,000 in fines in 2012.
Incidentally, there was a considerable decrease in cases pertaining to driving under the influence of alcohol as the PTC booked a total of 28 cases in 2013, in comparison to 82 such cases in 2012.
During 2013, the PTC also booked a total 28,473 cases under different offences of the Motor Vehicle Act and collected fines to the tune of Rs 30,34,450, in comparison to 27,174 different offences in 2012.
The Ponda Traffic Cell booked nearly 2,000 more cases of two-wheeler riders riding without helmet in 2013, as compared to 2012.
In 2013, a total of 6,993 riders were penalised for not wearing a helmet while riding, thereby collecting fines of about Rs 6,99,500, as against 5,087 cases in 2012, where the PTC collected fines to the tune of Rs 5,08,800
