The Hindu Business Line : Helmets must in Hyderabad from Nov 3

Unlike in the past, the Government has decided to focus more on awareness rather than forcing the wear-helmet rule on the people, according to Mr S. Santosh Reddy, Transport Minister.

Addressing a press conference here on Wednesday, he said the Traffic Department produced a documentary to highlight the need for wearing helmets.

In the second phase, the Government would implement it in Vijayawada, Visakhapatnam and then extend it to the rest of the State.

The Minister said the death of three medicos last month due to head injuries had hastened Government's move to implement the rule.

Of a total of 3,339 incidents of injuries in 2002, 757 people suffered head injuries. Of these, 411 died. In the first nine months this year, 154 people were killed due to head injuries, 48 per cent of the total deaths in road accidents.

The biggest challenge, however, is the availability of helmets. Ms Tejdeep Kaur Menon, Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic), said it was not a problem. She said the Department was holding discussions with distributors and manufacturers of helmets to ensure proper supply.

Ms Tejdeep pointed out that it was not just enough to wear helmets. "It is very important to close the stripes properly. Otherwise, the helmet would fall in the impact," she said.

More Stories on : Roadways | Accidents | Andhra Pradesh

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Helmets must in Hyderabad from Nov 3