BENGALURU: A video clip showing traffic police getting several helmets crushed under the wheels of a truck on grounds that they were of substandard quality has sparked a debate on social media, with a section of citizens pointing to policemen using similar helmets.
The clip, shared on Tuesday by DCP (traffic-west) Kuldeep Kumar R Jain, shows a police officer destroying ‘weak’ helmets while himself wearing a substandard one. The video has invited sarcastic barbs from some road users. A few even wondered if the lives of policemen weren’t as precious as those of other road users. Finding themselves in a tight spot, traffic police head honchos have now decided to set their house in order by directing the ground staff not to wear half-helmets and, instead, don only those that meet ISI standards.
Joint commissioner of police (traffic) BR Ravikanthe Gowda told TOI that no one was above the law and the helmet regulation was same for all. “We have instructed our men to wear proper helmets conforming to ISI standards. Till now, we fined more than 1,600 policemen for wearing substandard helmets,” he said.
Policemen buy helmets for official use from designated ‘police stores’, which can be found in places such as BVK Iyengar Road, Shivajinagar and Wilson Garden. “We pay for helmets on our own. Half-helmets with a police logo on them and with an ISI mark costs about Rs 350, while full-face helmets with similar features cost about Rs 800,” a constable said.
On reimbursing helmet costs, Gowda said the department only pays fuel bills. Those patrolling on two-wheelers must buy their own headgear, he added. Cops say they are forced to shell out money from their own pocket for a new helmet.
Jain, whose tweet led to the current round of discussions on social media, said his own team will start using standard helmets from now on. “As we kick off a public campaign, we will first enforce it within our department,” he added.
Substandard helmets and accidents
Traffic police data show the number of two-wheeler riders and pillions wearing helmets and still meeting with fatal accidents is three times that of those without helmets. The reason, police say, is either the helmets worn are substandard, or they aren’t strapped properly.
As per the data, about 1,300 riders and pillions died in road accidents between 2019 and 2021. Of them, 947 had helmets, while 353 did not wear one.
“This is why we have started a special drive against substandard helmets and those that aren’t worn properly,” said Gowda.
“We have now launched a driver and are letting off motorists with a warning. By February-end, we will start collecting fine. Using a substandard helmet for the sake of obeying law won’t save lives in case of accidents,” he added.
