Safe and Style

According to recent WHO report injuries due to traffic accidents are the second most important cause of death in the world.  Though there are traffic regulations and safety precautions to be followed by the people to safeguard their health and also others travelling on the roads, many times these rules and regulations are flouted and result in serious accidents. 

Helmet can become a new style statement

Telangana government decided to implement traffic rules strictly and started imposing not only fine but also adding penalty points for those who flout the rules from first of August this year.  

The type of helmet a person wearing and vehicle he is riding will to some extent reveal the age and status of the person

Helmet for two-wheelers and seat belt for drivers of motor vehicles made mandatory.  Skipping traffic safety precautions by the vehicle drivers is given points 1-5 based on rule jumped, like travelling without helmet or not putting on seat belt will be given one point whereas drunken driving a maximum of five points.  When the cumulative penalty points exceed twelve, for the first time, licence will be cancelled for a year, second time for two years. 

The writing on the helmet may help for some advertisement or spreading a new slogan

It is obvious from his helmet that the man wearing will be in twenties, stylish, thinks he is no less than a cine hero.

If caught third time with more than 12 penalty points the driving licence will be cancelled for lifetime.

People did not mind to pay fine and penalty points but do not want their licence cancelled.  I have seen on visual media, when a reporter interviewed passengers about new rule, one of them said, ‘It’s okay to fine us.  They can give as many penalty points as they want. But cancelling licence is too bad’. Then what for are penalty points I don’t understand.

This elderly man is forced to buy helmet.  So bought it.  Will it safeguard his head or is it just namesake

Anyway as nobody wants their driving licence to be cancelled people started using helmets and seatbelts.  In mid August when I went to Hyderabad for the first time I have seen many people driving two-wheelers having put on helmets.  This rule is strict only in Hyderabad but not anywhere else in Telangana.  It should be same rule not only in our state but also in our entire nation.

When traveling in chaotic traffic it will br good even if the pillion rider also wears helmet.  That will protect head and the person from noise and air pollution too

If the government is serious about decreasing grievous injuries and deaths due to traffic accidents it should also improve the conditions of the roads.  The rules should be followed by law-makers and enforcers alike and not just the common people not having any connections with the persons in high places in the government.

Are women exempted from wearing helmet?  Isn't their head important.  Taking care of eyes is good.  Head is must.

Women whether riding or pillion riders they too should put on helmets to protect themselves from head injuries. Recently one of my lady relative while traveling with her husband on a scooter met with an accident and had head injury. Both fell down and had injuries. Fortunately the head injury was not a serious one and both were safe.

  

When one person is exempted from rule every other person also wants to be exempted.  If the government is strict and everybody is fined and given penalty points for flouting rules, for few years, government will get good amount from fines which can be utilised to improve connectivity and safety of road travel.  People also get used to follow rules strictly for benefit of self and others.

Chaotic traffic in Secunderabad as metro construction is going on

 Here I have posted few pictures of people with helmets.  I think helmet should become new style statement for youngsters on bikes.  Helmet is life saving in traffic accidents as it prevents serious head injuries.  Long, long ago (28-30 years) though helmet was advised but was not compulsory my husband used to wear helmet while riding scooter.  It would protect him from dust.  

There are many, many people still who neglect their safety precautions.  Sometime the loss is irrevocable

Once when I was travelling with him along with my daughter the vehicle skidded I jumped down or fell down along with my daughter I don’t remember but we had no injuries.  My husband fell down and I had to go to him and see if he was conscious.  He was conscious got up with my help.  His helmet had scratches but his head was safe.  He was safe for he was wearing helmet.  He had minimal injuries on the arms.   We always follow safety precautions while travelling on a bike or car. 

Here this man thinks if he has helmet hanging by his side it will protect.  Maybe he can escape fine, but if accident happens his head may not escape

The driver seems to be overconfident, but the pillion rider doesn't want to take any risk

As a woman she may confident of multitasking, but on the road it is safe to follow road safety principles. 

 All the photographs except the last two and the photograph of helmets are taken as we were driving from Uppal to Secunderabad.

Traffic Snarls

We all know that population explosion compromises our life in many ways.  Now any planning for infrastructure or basic amenities is done should be done keeping in view of future increase of population.  The old facilities that are available should be used precariously and new ones to be developed keeping the population growth in another 50 years.   I could understand this when I visited Madina – Pathargatti shopping areas in the old city of Hyderabad.  Here there are multifloored buildings each floor having many shops and even the tiny space 3x5 feet along side the stair case accommodates a shop. In these shops crores of business takes place everyday and thousands of people will be moving in the narrow lanes of 5-10 feet. Some even bring personal vehicles - two-wheelers, and the transport vehicles like rickshaws, autos, tempos and mini lorries also try to squeeze through these roads.  If one wants to learn how to move on a vehicle or walk through narrow lanes without getting hurt should visit Madina, Pathargatti and Begum Bazaar in Hyderabad.  Here are few photos I have taken sitting as pillion rider on the scooter. Initially I was afraid that we may not be able to move out of traffic web and will be stranded for an hour.  There is not even place to get down and walk forward or backward.  Fortunately everything cleared in 15 minutes and we were out.  Again behind us there is another traffic jam.  People here know the knack to negotiate and move out forward with a smile. That is India.