Thiruvanmiyur on a Sunday
With effect from June 1, 2007, the Government of Tamilnadu implemented the law for mandatory wearing of Helmets by the rider and the pillion rider. Within 2 days of introduction, the Government backtracked by saying that the police are not to implement the rule vigorously. Now the Government says that the person driving the two wheeler has to wear the helmet and the pillion riders, women and children are exempted from wearing the helmet. In Chennai nobody seems to worry about the present regulation on helmet wearing. The two wheeler riders without helmet spotted on Sunday, June 24, 2007 near Thiruvanmiyur Railway Station
The traffic in the busy IT corridor is lean on this Sunday afternoon and the cyclist with his family is having a pleasant ride
A new traffic arrangement is given effect to since June 30, 2007 at Thiruvanmiyur junction. According to this report appearing in The Hindu, congestion remains at the Thiruvanmiyur Junction.
As reports pour in from all quarters speculating about the gross collections for Sivaji at Rs 150 crores, the movie is running to packed houses wherever it is screened. Sivaji has also hit the Burma Bazaar circuit resulting in raids one day last week. The marketing hype continues which includes change of screen in the Bill Boards across the city with newer designs. I spotted “Mottai Boss” near Anna Flyover. The bill board you see is with a new screen at the Lattice Bridge close to the IT corridor
One wonders how many deaths the Chief Minister is going to be responsible for by telling the police not to enforce the helmet wearing order. Ask any doctor from the city’s hospitals, especially the emergency department or neuro-surgery, and they will tell you not wearinga helmet is the leading cause of death of two wheeler rider accident victims.What is worse is, that the pillion riders are often the worst affected in an accident, and here we are saying they do not have to wear helmets! When will this travesty end? I wish the medical fraternity would raise a hue and cry in public forums on this issue.
One wonders how many deaths the Chief Minister is going to be responsible for by telling the police not to enforce the helmet wearing order. Ask any doctor from the city’s hospitals, especially the emergency department or neuro-surgery, and they will tell you not wearinga helmet is the leading cause of death of two wheeler rider accident victims.What is worse is, that the pillion riders are often the worst affected in an accident, and here we are saying they do not have to wear helmets! When will this travesty end? I wish the medical fraternity would raise a hue and cry in public forums on this issue.
Most medicines are bitterand the ban on helmetless driving is one such.A chiefminister who yields to the childish among the public is not a responsible parent.
David and others,
How many of the medical fraternity themselves (the ones who are not lucky and endowded with great money to own a car) wear helmets? How many policemen wear helmets religiously?
The law is a complete failure and it is not a surprise… it once again shows that you cannot reform a society by legislation and police… espically in a country like India. Let us admit the facts – helmets are alone not going to stop accidents. There are lots and lots of other issues here – bad roads, lack of street lighting, poor signalling and general disregard for traffic rules (by pedestrians, cyclists plus two wheeler drivers)… it is a complicated situation and it is easy for those who drive in Air conditioned cars to yell that two wheeler owners should all wear helmets and like.. The hardship of wearing helmets (in a punishingly hot and humid place like Chennai) cannot be ignored or brushed aside.
Comparing helmets with bitter medicine is not right… medicines cure diseases. Can helmets ensure that there are no road accidents of any kind? The bad roads in the city and lack of general traffic discipline cause more deaths. And of course Chief Minister of a state is not a parent and people elect him , so he is right because the next election is not far off.
See how many people wore helmets on 1st and 2nd of June… yes, the law can make a difference.
Surely there are places in the world where the climate is even worse than Chennai, but helmets are worn, through either law, common sense or both?
Yes most people wore helmets on 1st and 2nd June, but 90% of them wore out of fear (of fine) and revulsion and a majority were unhappy.
Infact most people wondered why the govenrment which shells out so much to give free TV sets could have done the same for helmets !!
Over 1 million people drive two wheelers in Chennai and we arent a China and Russia and there is a May 2009 that the ruling government needs to face. So laws cannot change a society and what is needed is educating the people on merits of helmets and not fining people for wearing something that majority dont seem to like.
BTW what about that law passed on people driving cars need to wear seatbelts ? Why is no follow up on that? I dont see much news on that. How many really follow that?
This just goes to prove that people in Chennai have no idea what they are doing, they make rules yet do not follow them. Death tolls in Chennai are quite high yet people here are still ignorant to wearing helmets. What is wrong with people here have they no common sense??? I think India should have become communist instead of being a democratic country this is what happens when you have a country of a billion plus idiots. Nothing gets done there is too much damm talk about issues like this no action is taken and life continues as normal there is no respect for life here clearly. Nothing will change in India, we should also get rid of those damm Sivaji posters a waste of space.
Yes, education would be better, but fear of the law would do for now!
In my mother country I well remember the civil rights outcry that accompanied imposition of law on drinking and driving and on wearing seat belts.
You know, we used to have a saying, one for the road — have one more drink before you drive home! It takes years for it to seep into consciousness, but many of those who were once saying, ‘one for the road,’ are now refusing to drink at all when they have to drive that day.
Exactly the same with seatbelts.
The law must take the lead. And it must be enforced.
Sam,
Yes, you should take over.
Helmets are not meant to prevent accidents, but save the lives of those involved in accidents by preventing grevious injuries to the head.Whether it is fear, revulsion or the fine, at least it will ensure fewer people die on the roads. I believe the law should be enforced with zero tolerance, for both helmets and seat belts.It is in many countries, why not here?
How about auto meters?
Today I asked 10 autos to use meters.
None of them did.
Either they look at me starange or scold me.
Really wonder what I did wrong?
How about auto meters?
Today I asked 10 autos to use meters.
None of them did.
Either they look at me starange or scold me.
Really wonder what I did wrong?
How about auto meters?
Today I asked 10 autos to use meters.
None of them did.
Either they look at me starange or scold me.
Really wonder what I did wrong?
hi friends
hmmm. well well wearing helmets in city…. no chance … as ramki sir said on 1st and 2nd june most of the people weared helmets.. y y y ??? bec of the policeman… already if we have proper documents also the police will tear us for the MAMUL(in tamil word).. if we go without helmets thats all each and every day we want spend money around 100 to 150.. but the total cost of the helmet is only 600. so people choose helmet is best then the rule… which gave the police personal a side income.. forcing the people to wear helmets, the government can provide good roads, lights, strict traffic rules.. and speed limit.. if the government controls the speed limit. more and more accidents will come down and no casualitys wil there and no use of helmets …Mount road (from Devi Thearte to guindy) whether u found any major accidents… surely there will be a very low bec of speed limit. no one can go fast due to traffic congestion.. most of the accidents are happened by the metro water lorrys and cyclist and path riders only….
In my point of view the government should propose a strict traffic regulation rules and guidelines.. even if police personal ask for side income, a direct line to the control room to be provided for the people to complaint or something else which is to be very useful to the people to avoid the inconvience made by the police…. i did not mentioned all the police personal 40 or 45 per of them only….