In the week since the court-mandated drive against two-wheeler riders not wearing hel mets began on July 1, police booked close to 7,200 cases across Chennai. That is a little more than 1,000 cases a day, a substantial number of which involved police impounding the offender's vehicle.
Senior police officers are convinced that they are doing a fine job. The situation on the road, however, wouldn't warrant such confidence because motorists are only getting bolder with every passing day .
A large number of motorbike riders simply place their helmets on the petrol tank or strap them to the handle bar so they can put them on in a jiffy when they spot a traffic policeman.
Away from the main roads, where there are no checkpoints, motorists have no fear whatsoever of breaking the helmet rule. Most users of two-wheelers are now aware of where police set up check points and easily avoid them. But they may not be able to do that for much longer.
"We have asked each sub-inspector to choose three to four locations and keep rotating between them," a senior police officer said.
But a police officer at Guindy told TOI that senior officers had specifically directed them not to check for violations of the rule and impound vehicles on all stretches because that would not allow them to regulate traffic.
Asked why the traffic police cannot enforce a strict crackdown, he said, "We have been advising and warning people on the issue for six months but no bothers to pay heed. It's not possible to enforce a crackdown indefinitely . How long can we keep doing the same thing? It's ultimately up to motorists to realise the danger of not wearing helmets."
Senior police officers say they constantly remind constables and sub-inspectors about the need to wear helmets themselves. "We have also put up signs and banners across the city , asking those who use twowheelers to wear helmets," an officer said. "We send text messages to people reminding them about the rule."
Police also face logistical limitations. They book 1,000 cases daily , but the courts can dispose of only 300 to 350 cases day , the officer said.
"With a big backlog, we also have a pile up of seized vehicles and documents," he said. "But the pressure is on us to enforce the rule come what may ."
Senior police officers are convinced that they are doing a fine job. The situation on the road, however, wouldn't warrant such confidence because motorists are only getting bolder with every passing day .
A large number of motorbike riders simply place their helmets on the petrol tank or strap them to the handle bar so they can put them on in a jiffy when they spot a traffic policeman.
Away from the main roads, where there are no checkpoints, motorists have no fear whatsoever of breaking the helmet rule. Most users of two-wheelers are now aware of where police set up check points and easily avoid them. But they may not be able to do that for much longer.
"We have asked each sub-inspector to choose three to four locations and keep rotating between them," a senior police officer said.
But a police officer at Guindy told TOI that senior officers had specifically directed them not to check for violations of the rule and impound vehicles on all stretches because that would not allow them to regulate traffic.
Asked why the traffic police cannot enforce a strict crackdown, he said, "We have been advising and warning people on the issue for six months but no bothers to pay heed. It's not possible to enforce a crackdown indefinitely . How long can we keep doing the same thing? It's ultimately up to motorists to realise the danger of not wearing helmets."
Senior police officers say they constantly remind constables and sub-inspectors about the need to wear helmets themselves. "We have also put up signs and banners across the city , asking those who use twowheelers to wear helmets," an officer said. "We send text messages to people reminding them about the rule."
Police also face logistical limitations. They book 1,000 cases daily , but the courts can dispose of only 300 to 350 cases day , the officer said.
"With a big backlog, we also have a pile up of seized vehicles and documents," he said. "But the pressure is on us to enforce the rule come what may ."
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