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First day flop show

D-day of DCP Traffic’s order making helmets mandatory for his two-wheeler riding staff records a rather dismal performance, with most spotted sans their protective head gear on Tuesday. Mr Patil, your men don’t take you seriously enough!

Anurag Bende

Posted On Wednesday, January 20, 2010 at 12:38:24 AM

	It will take some time for the staff to get used to it. So, for the next five days, we will issue warnings to them. If they fail to comply even after that, then strict action will be taken.” — Manoj Patil, DCP (Traffic)
Good Cop	Bad Cop

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Manoj Patil had issued an order making it mandatory for his staff to wear a helmet while riding two-wheelers from January 19 onwards. However, the D-day recorded a rather dismal performance show from Patil’s staff, with most of the traffic cops in the city spotted riding their bikes sans a helmet on Tuesday.

Ever since the Pune Mirror started its campaign on the use of helmet by two-wheeler users, several parties have taken a cue from it, with private companies distributing free helmets among its employees. Similarly, the Pune District Superintendent of Police Pratap Dighavkar too, took a leaf out of our book and ordered close to 1,500 helmets for his staff.

Once he gets his supply, he plans to make wearing helmet compulsory for his two-wheeler-riding staff. Close on his heels was the Traffic Department of Pune police with the DCP (Traffic) Patil issuing the January 19 deadline to his staff for wearing helmets compulsorily.

Unfortunately, when the Pune Mirror team hit the streets on Tuesday for a reality check, not many were found to have taken the DCP seriously. Only a meagre handful were actually found to be wearing helmets.

Mirror had earlier reported on how several of the cops in the city ride around callously without a helmet on their heads. Following the report, DCP Patil decided to make helmets mandatory for his department.

Vijay Kumbhar, president of Surajya Sangharsha Samiti, said, “If the traffic police themselves do not follow the rules and the orders of their seniors, then they do not have any right to fine other people.

The senior officials should issue a code of conduct for their staff to wear helmets while riding two-wheelers and seat belts while driving a car and if they are found breaking this code, then they should not be allowed to fine the public.”

When Mirror contacted DCP Patil, he said, “The orders have been given to the staff. This issue had been neglected till now and it will take some time for the staff to get used to it. So, we have decided that for the next five days, we will issue warnings to our staff if they are found riding without helmets.

If they fail to comply even after the warning, then strict action will be taken against them.”

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