The compulsory helmet rule for two-wheelers will be strictly implemented in the twin cities from Wednesday.
Persons caught riding motor-cycles or scooters without wearing a helmet, and also motorists without driving licences, will be severely punished. The punishment may include fines and jail sentences.
It may be mentioned here that the Hyderabad High Court, taking into cognizance the increasing number of fatal accidents, especially those involving two-wheelers, had recently directed the transport department and the traffic police to strictly enforce compulsory helmet rule for motor-cyclists and scooterists. As a first step in this regard, the transport and traffic police officials launched a drive to educate 2-wheeler drivers about the benefits of wearing helmets while driving, in a big way. A big advertisement campaign was undertaken with posters and flexes at all important junctions and also on main thoroughfares about the importance of wearing helmets.
After nearly two months of that, the police launched a final drive to inform two-wheelers drivers about the helmet rule this morning by catching those driving without helmets at many important junctions and busy roads this morning and warning them that if they failed to wear helmets from Wednesday they would be penalized and even jailed.
The police officials indicated that rules regarding the wearing of seat belts in 4-wheelers and also possessing driving licences would also be implemented. If a person is caught driving without a driving licence, the vehicle will be seized and released after the payment of the appropriate fine. What is more, the person caught will also be convicted for a day till the rising of the court. If the person is caught for the same offence a second time, then he will be jailed for a day in addition to being fined, and a third time offence will result in two days' imprisonment and a fine. Habitual offenders will be jailed for one week and also face a heavy penalty.
Those found talking on mobile phones while driving will also have to face the law, the police added.