After running drives after drives and advertising campaigns, and being politely harsh on those driving two wheelers without helmet, this is probably the last thing Traffic Police of any city could do to stop bikers’ accidental death. And this is exactly what City Traffic Police is going to do from Sunday when it launches another Traffic Week: to distribute 21,000 free helmets by the end of March 2017 to those being caught without helmet.
Traffic SP Sanjay Ranjan Singh said today that the department targeted to distribute as many as 11,000 helmets during second Helmet Week this year starting from Sunday. “We have targeted to distribute more than 5,500 helmets on Sunday itself, from which around 5,000 helmets are expected to be given to those joining a bike rally on that day. Rest will be given to those caught without helmet. They will be given free helmet after issuing fine Challan on the spot,” said Singh.
The Traffic Police is organising a bikers rally on Sunday, in which over 5,000 bikers are expected to take part. Participants of rally would include members from the Army, CISF, CRPF, the Police, The Women Police Battalion, the Press and Media, NGO and many other organizations. Singh said that CM Raghubar Das would flag off the rally, which would be led by a celebrity. However, he didn’t disclose the name of celebrity saying that it would be a surprise for bikers.
“The rally will start from Morhabadi at 9 AM and will end back to there via Albert Ekka Chowk, Rajendra Chowk, Birsa Chowk and Harmu Road. Anyone can come to Morhabadi at 7 Am on Sunday along with bike and its papers and valid driving license to get enrolled for the rally and get a helmet absolutely free,” Singh Added. A mock drill was organised for the rally with 300 bikers on similar route today.
He said that the rally was aimed to motivate most of those school-going adolescents and teens and their family members, who acquired a habit of stepping out on their bikes without helmets. “5,000 is a big number and when this headcount will step on road in a group carrying identical helmets, the onlookers would definitely come to think of not stepping out without helmet and leaving their lives at stake,” said Singh.
The traffic SP has said that the target of distributing 21,000 helmets would be tried to be achieved by end of this year itself. He also said that no influential voices would be paid attention in terms of getting anyone away without fine in case one broke the rule during coming Helmet Week. The Police will keep records of those attending rally, so that the one among them breaking traffic rules could be treated more harshly.