Vidarbha Taxpayers Association for enforcing helmet rule in Nagpur

NAGPUR: As per National Crime Records Bureau, Maharashtra reported 62,095 accidental deaths and topped the country with nearly one-sixth (15.7%) of total accidental deaths reported in the country in 2012. Unfortunately, Nagpur is at 11th position in the list of cities that reported maximum accidental deaths. This list is headed by Jabalpur. Nagpur city traffic police's statistics reveals that of the 310 persons who died in road mishaps in 2013, 130 were motorcyclists without helmets.
Alarmed by these figures, a delegation of Vidarbha Taxpayers Association (VTA) met joint commissioner of police Sanjay Saxena and demanded mandatory enforcement of section 129 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, regarding helmet use for two-wheeler riders. A delegation led by VTA president JP Sharma submitted a memorandum to Saxena in this regard.
Sharma said fortunately we already have a law on wearing protective headgear for two-wheeler users, however, it does not mean the problem has been addressed. VTA secretary Tejinder Singh Renu submitted that in 2012, Ministry of Home Affairs through National Crime Records Bureau had published a report on 'Accidental Deaths in India' wherein it is mentioned that 4,40,042 'road accidents' cases were recorded in 2012, resulting into 1,39,091 deaths.
As per record, Uttar Pradesh, the most populous state with population share of 16.9%, reported 7.6% of the total accidental deaths in the country. Madhya Pradesh (9.1%), Tamil Nadu (8.3%) and Andhra Pradesh (7.6%) were among the states that reported significant accidental deaths in 2012, besides Gujarat (6.3%), Karnataka (6.1%), West Bengal (6.1%) and Rajasthan (6.0%).
VTA also submitted record from 'Global Status Report on Road Safety' published by World Health Organization (WHO) in 2009, wherein India is leading in road accidents.
VTA requested the police department that in order to save lives, Section 129 of The Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, should be strictly enforced in Nagpur. This can be done gradually to avoid panic and chaos. Shopkeepers as well as motorcyclists should be given time to procure and buy helmets approved by Bureau of Indian Standards.
Saxena assured the delegation that the police department has started taking action in this regard. The department would first educate citizens as well as students and gradually enforce the rule, he said. He also requested motorcyclists to follow this law voluntarily. "Parents should also ensure that their children ride two-wheelers with appropriate safety gear," he added.
Deputy commissioner of police Sunil Kolhe and executive body members of VTA, Saqib Parekh and Rohit Agrawal, were also present in the meeting.