PUNE: Regional Transport Office (RTO) officials enforcing the helmet mandate among government servants in the city seemed to have turned a blind eye to their own office near Sangam bridge, where a majority of two-wheeler riders can be seen entering and exiting the premises without the protective headgear throughout the day.
“I didn’t wear the helmet as it is very hot these days,” said a helmetless two-wheeler rider visiting the RTO office on Wednesday. “Moreover, I live nearby. I wasn’t aware that the helmet rule was meant for all,” he said.
Riding a two-wheeler without a helmet attracts a fine of Rs 500. “Not wearing a helmet while riding a two-wheeler has been an offence for long. The current campaign (started a fortnight ago) is mainly aimed at disciplining the government officials. Having said that, general public flouting the mandate are being fined too. Our men are checking our offices as well and the drive will be strengthened,” Pune’s deputy RTO Sanjay Sasane told TOI.
Senior police officers said they were concentrating on identifying helmetless two-wheeler riders with the help of CCTV cameras, besides the on-ground physical checks.
“With the help of CCTV cameras, we are able to identify and take action against more people. In 2021, of all offences, driving without helmet saw the maximum number of cases. Our work against helmetless riders is on,” deputy commissioner of police (DCP-traffic) Rahul Shrirame told TOI.
Another officer, who did not wish to be named, said riders in the city simply don’t want to wear helmets. “Not just people, there are several organizations too repeatedly resisting the helmet mandate in the city. This is surprising and unfortunate,” he said.
Experts said visible action was key to enforce the helmet rule. “Although the traffic police might claim that they issue challans based on CCTV footage, there is no substitute for on-road and visible action. One person fined in public is seen by 10 other people. CCTV-based challans just don’t have this impact. Also, this issue also needs political backing to succeed,” Harshad Abhyankar, the director of Save Pune Traffic Movement, told TOI.
State transport commissioner Avinash Dhakne had earlier told TOI that people fined during the drive against helmetless riders often complain that the authorities seldom practice what they preach.
