Team Herald
PONDA: Since past four days, from January 29, the Ponda traffic cell has formed six teams and deputed them all across the city to issue challans to riders not wearing helmets.
The action of the traffic police comes despite the Ponda Municipal Council passing a resolution opposing ‘compulsory helmet rule’ within the city limits and condemning the traffic sentinels for “harassing” motorists.
In the last four days, the police have issued challans to around 1000 motorists and collected around Rs 1 lakh as fines. However, the locals are unhappy over the strict implementation of helmet rules. But police say that the stringent enforcement of helmet rule has created greater awareness among motorists that they should wear helmets in city; and now almost 80-90 percent of the riders are wearing helmet in the city. Police say that, in next few days, they are hoping to achieve 100 percent compliance of the helmet rule.
It is pertinent that since past many years, ‘compulsory helmet rule’ was relaxed in Ponda city. However, the same is now being vigorously enforced by the police.
Ponda residents say that spot challans by traffic police is better than harassment by the sentinels. The locals say that instead of targeting motorists for not wearing helmets, the sentinels should stand on the highways and target over-speeding vehicles which are the main cause of accidents.
Locals say that they have no problem in wearing helmets but at the same time with helmets in hand, shopping and day-to-day activities in the city have become difficult.
