Helmet Rally Organised In Pune To Create Awareness On Road Safety

Around 1500 riders came together in the city of Pune to promote road safety 

• Zehn X, in association with the Pune Traffic Police amongst others, organised a road safety campaign this past Saturday.
• Around 1,500 riders came together on Saturday to promote road safety in Pune. 
• The campaign revolved around the idea of raising awareness about common traffic violations.

Finally some good news! While rider safety seemed a bit neglected in Pune, a bunch of responsible citizens have come together to promote road safety. The folks from Zehn X, in association with the Pune Traffic Police, Premier Group, Rotary Club of Pune Akurdi and Sancheti Hospital took it upon themselves to organise a road safety campaign this past Saturday. Why again? Well, despite numerous attempts, the officials have failed to raise awareness amongst riders and drivers alike about the benefits of following traffic rules.

In fact, quite recently, the headlines were flooded with activists, NGOs and politicians coming together to form an Anti-Helmet Compulsion Action Committee to protest against the new mandatory helmet law. Some stated that helmets shouldn't be imposed as the ones who choose not to wear them aren’t harming anyone. Some even went as far as stating that helmets cause medical problems. Yeah, not the sharpest tool in the shed.

Also Read: New ISI Helmet Regulations For 2019

The effort revolved around the idea of raising awareness about common traffic violations like exceeding the seating limit, drunk driving, riding without a helmet, honking unnecessarily, jumping traffic lights and not wearing a seatbelt. Additional violations including overspeeding and not being able to furnish a licence or proper documentation were also addressed.

Also Read: Does Wearing A Helmet Save Your Life?

A major chunk of traffic fatalities is due to some form of human error. According to official reports, in Pune, around 182 two-wheeler riders lose their lives every year due to accidents, while the yearly toll stands around 1.5 lakh in India. Inculcating the need to follow traffic rules will result in less accidents and fewer fatalities.

Also Read: Choosing the ‘Right Helmet’

As for the enforced helmet rule, we’re all for it! What people need to understand is, unlike any other part of the body, an injury to the brain is irreversible. A good quality helmet will only increase the chances of you walking away from a crash without any brain damage. The pros far outweigh the cons. 

Dr Parag Sancheti, Chairman and Managing Director of Sancheti Hospital, said, “Punekars give strange excuses for not wearing helmets ranging from poor vision due to helmets to neck pain”. He further stated that they come across about seven to eight patients daily with two-wheeler injuries.

Also Read: Airbag Helmet Concept Developed By IIT-Roorkee Students

Unfortunately, the Indian mentality is such that majority of the two-wheeler population would rather invest in a low-quality helmet or just refuse to wear one. Nevertheless, the road safety campaign does have a silver lining as it roped in a number of enthusiasts who believed in the cause and also created awareness among the younger generation who’ll soon hop onto the saddle.

Source: Hindustan Times