KARACHI: With traffic management being a challenge for the authorities in the city, where hundreds of thousands of vehicles run on the roads, the traffic police appear to have become more aggressive than ever in spotting motorcyclists without helmets as the law enforcement agency penalised more than 11,500 riders and seized over 7,000 two-wheelers, officials said on Tuesday.
The ambitious campaign for awareness of the utility of helmets for the safety of motorcyclists, which was launched by the Karachi traffic police only on Monday, had seen the law enforcers in all districts of the metropolis actively spotting and penalising the violators in the last two days and the number is expected to swell in the days to come.
“A total of 11,530 motorcyclists were penalised or fined for not wearing helmets while riding,” said a spokesman for the Karachi traffic police. “The traffic police also seized 7,368 motorbikes during the first two days of the campaign. The police on the spot impose a Rs150 fine on the riders violating the rules who despite having helmets do not wear them while riding. Similarly, motorbikes of those riders are seized who don’t have helmets altogether. A fine was imposed on them as well but their bikes are confiscated until they bring the helmet and a copy of the paid challan.”
He said the traffic police in two days had imposed a total fine of Rs1.729 million with most of the cases reported in district South, where 2,126 riders were spotted using bikes without helmets.
‘In our society violation of traffic rules is seen as [an act of] pride or bravery, not as a crime’
“It is stated that the use of safety helmets by motorcycle riders is a statutory obligation under Section 89-A of the Motor Vehicles Ordinance, 1965. The traffic police are making every possible effort to enforce it through a regular action and special drives,” said DIG Traffic Javed Ali Mahar. “However, it has been observed that despite regular drives by the traffic police against helmet violations, motorcyclists still ride without helmets, resulting in serious accidents and loss of life. The violation requires additional checks in addition to the action by the traffic police on helmet violation.”
He said that the police launched the campaign more for awareness and if the people are penalised, they would realise the sensitivity of the issue. Unfortunately, he said, a mere warning did not work and the riders never took it seriously.
“The people should understand that the rules are for their own benefit and non-cooperation from their side will only put their own lives in danger,” said Mr Mahar. “As we observe, riding without helmets and speeding have been a major cause of fatal accidents among the riders. Unfortunately, a majority of the riders are not ready to follow the rules on city roads. It’s quite unfortunate that in our society violation of traffic rules is seen as [an act of] pride or bravery not as a crime.”
Published in Dawn, July 3rd, 2019
