After cops, helmet rule to ‘cover’ govt employees of Pune

Concerned over the safety of motorcyclists and the alarming rise in the number of fatalities due to head injuries sustained in road accidents, the traffic branch of the Pune police is considering making helmets mandatory for government employees in the city.

The traffic police have proposed to ban government employees from entering their office premises, if they fail to wear helmets. In all probability, the new curbs would be introduced after the Ganesh festival.

To begin with, the traffic police is planning to impose curbs on the premises of the district collectorate, the Pune Municipal Corporation, Central building and the new complex of the Pune Zilla Parishad.

Soon after the Ganesh festival is over, the traffic police plan to hold a meeting with top government officials and work out the modalities with them.

The traffic police have already made helmets mandatory for policemen and visitors entering the police commissionerate and police headquarters in Shivajinagar.

Deputy commissioner of police (traffic) Vishwas Pandhare told DNA, “Right now, we are inculcating the habit of using helmets among policemen. We are also thinking to make helmets mandatory at other government offices in the city too.”  The top brass of the city police are of the opinion that officials from other departments should come forward and make helmets mandatory for their subordinates.

“Most government employees ride motorcycles without wearing helmets. If they start using it, there will be more helmet users on the road. That would encourage others to use helmets as well. Considering this, we have decided to conduct a meeting with different government offices on this issue after the Ganesh festival,” a senior officer told DNA on condition of anonymity.

The traffic police are trying to inculcate the habit of using helmets among citizens as head injuries tend to be fatal or lead to disabilities. A few years ago, the city police had tried to make the rule compulsory, but had to withdraw it due to widespread opposition.