RAIPUR
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Dr Lal Umed Singh has instructed two-wheeler dealers in Raipur to make it mandatory to sell a helmet with every vehicle. The directive comes amid a continuous rise in fatal road accidents where two-wheeler riders suffer head injuries.
The Raipur Police have been conducting various campaigns to promote helmet use and have also been taking action against riders without helmets. In a meeting held at the Traffic Office, 51 two-wheeler dealers, along with Raipur Auto Dealers’ Association vice-president Kailash Khemani and MG Road Traders’ Association president Sanjay Jadwani, were present. Regional Transport Officer Ashish Dewangan, Additional SP Dr Prashant Shukla, and Additional SP (Traffic/Protocol) Dr Anurag Jha were also in attendance.
Dr Singh told dealers that just as they persuade customers to buy a particular vehicle, they should also counsel them on their safety. He said it is essential to inform customers about the importance of helmets, check if they have a driving licence, and verify if they are adults. He also stressed the need for dealers to educate buyers of high-speed bikes about their safety systems, safe speed limits, load capacity, and brake systems.
He said that young riders, after buying high-speed bikes without understanding their safety features, often perform stunts in Naya Raipur, leading to accidents and a risk to their lives. The trend of creating stunt-related social media reels has made the younger generation ignore their safety. Dr Singh said that the death of a young person in a road accident affects three generations. In the last seven months, 214 people have died in road accidents in Raipur due to head injuries.
He added that everyone must work together to control these deaths. Since dealers are selling the vehicles, ensuring rider safety should be their priority. He urged them to put up awareness posters about helmets in their showrooms. He also advised installing GPS systems in vehicles so that parents can monitor their children’s activities and speed.
Khemani said the Raipur Auto Dealers’ Association had already instructed its dealers to comply. He added that the association is in talks with companies to provide a helmet free of cost with every vehicle. Khemani assured that all dealers would sell helmets with vehicles, provide information on safety measures, and explain the importance of using a helmet. He also confirmed that dealers would put up helmet awareness posters at their showrooms.
