Helmets must be compulsory for students
Mangalore Today News Network
Udupi, Sep 19, 2015 : District police department has directed all educational institutions in Udupi to enforce wearing of helmets compulsorily for students from October 1.
A media release issued by Superintendent of Police Annamalai focused on the serious issue of rising accidents in which a lot of young people were losing their lives and limbs.
Reviewing the numbers in whole of India, a major accident happens every minute and a person loses his/her life every four minutes. In the year 2014, a total of 1.4 lakh people have lost their lives due to accidents.
India is second only to China in terms of road accident deaths. The statistics definitely give a very disturbing picture, the SP stated.
The statistics are pretty grim in Udupi district. The statistics for college and school students who were victims of accidents are : Three fatal and 32 non-fatal accidents involving students were reported in 2013. During 2014, four fatal and 27 non-fatal accidents were reported while seven fatal and 34 non-fatal accidents were reported till July 2015.
The SP said that no right-minded person would appreciate, these are not mere statistics but a story of loss of life, broken families and many distressed souls. Many a time when we analyse these accidents we have found that a simple wearing of helmet in many instances would have prevented a fatality. In other cases under age person (below the age of 18) driving a vehicle, driving an uninsured vehicle and others are also being noticed. He added that department was in the process of bringing in some major changes in the way school and college students commute. This is being done to prevent the rise in the number of road accidents.
The police department cannot make wearing helmets compulsory in Udupi as this requires a government order. Annamalai has urged the school and college managements should instruct the watchman and security guard to be strict with students who were trying to enter the campus without helmets.