Cops planning to intensify helmet checking ‘gradually’

TRICHY: City police commissioner

A Amalraj

said on Monday that it was increased enforcement on their part that had caused a fall in the number of fatal accidents in the city compared to the previous year. The number of deaths in accidents fell by 20 in 2018, compared to the previous year as on May 31.

The police commissioner was speaking during the inauguration of the cashless fine payment system introduced for traffic violators at the city police office. “If you see the total number of road accidents, there is not much difference between last year and this year, but we were able to decrease the number of deaths primarily because of increased enforcement,” he said.

Amalraj told TOI that checking for helmet violation would be intensified gradually. “We wish to give an increased emphasis on the helmet rule and I also urge the people to take the rule more seriously,” the police commissioner said. He added that the number of deaths in road accidents was reduced because of the fact that the registration of cases of traffic violation, compared to last year, had almost doubled.

A source said that the action against helmet-less ride was relaxed to a certain extent over the past couple of months after the public outrage over the death of Usha. The woman had fallen off the bike on which she was pillion-riding with her husband after an inspector allegedly kicked the vehicle because he had refused to stop the bike during vehicle checking for helmet violation.

Police said an analysis of the accidents over the past two to three years played a role in bringing down the number of deaths. The study categorised the roads based on the number of accidents and by identifying accident hotspots. “We ensured that enough barricades and indicators were put up at all the hotspots,” deputy commissioner of police (crime and traffic) A

Myilvaganan

stated. The three major accident hotspots identified by the police are

Palpannai

to Thiruverumbur, TVS toll gate to

Trichy international airport

and the national highways sector.