Cops get friendly,give out helmets not challans

In a renewed attempt to ensure safety on roads for two-wheeler riders,Ghaziabad traffic police,in collaboration with a non-government organisation,have decided to distribute helmets to those riding without the safety gear.

The move comes after the traffic police said that challans failed in motivating the riders to wear helmets. According to Anil Kumar,SP (traffic),a Chennai-based NGO,Awareness on Anti-Corruption and Crime,approached the police for the tie-up. “The NGO wanted to distribute around 4,000 helmets in the district on particular days. They feel challans do not motivate the riders to wear helmets,which is for their own security.”

The SP (traffic) said if the NGO sends in the helmets,then the police will chalk out a plan to distribute them.

“If at least 4,000 bikers wear helmets,surely casualties on roads will decrease. It will improve the traffic too,” Kumar said. Meanwhile,though the NGO has sent a sample of helmet to the police,its delegates are yet to meet the traffic chief to finalise the distribution. “We are happy to distribute these helmets as we think if the bikers have them,they will probably use them. As it is penalising them does not mean they will wear helmets,” Kumar added.