Jamshedpur: Traffic police stop dozens of bikers at city intersections every day, but officers say the bigger challenge is not catching violators—it is convincing young riders that helmets can save lives.Traffic DSP Neeraj Kumar said the belief that police conduct helmet checks merely to collect fines is “completely baseless”, adding that enforcement is aimed only at reducing fatalities on city roads.“People often think traffic police are interested only in collecting fines. That is not true. Our only objective is to save lives. A helmet is for the rider’s own safety,” Kumar told TOI.According to traffic police records, most helmetless riders booked during enforcement drives are aged 30 or below. Officers said youngsters are also more frequently found speeding, performing stunts, riding triple-seat and violating other traffic rules—behaviour that sharply raises the risk of fatal crashes.Police estimate around 40 fatal road accidents occur every month in and around Jamshedpur, with young two-wheeler riders making up a large share of the victims. Officials said the situation is equally alarming in rural areas and on highways around the steel city, where many continue to ride without helmets despite repeated awareness campaigns.The district administration has repeatedly identified helmetless riding as a major contributor to road deaths. Earlier this year, a road safety review found that 17 people who died in road accidents in Jan were not wearing helmets, prompting authorities to intensify enforcement.Kumar said, “Traffic discipline is a must for every law-abiding citizen. Riders should avoid modifying motorcycles or installing loud exhaust pipes that create deafening noise. Such modifications are illegal and invite penalties,” he said.The DSP also urged motorists to carry a valid driving licence, insurance certificate and Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate while driving.To make enforcement more transparent, traffic personnel have been directed in recent months to conduct vehicle checks under CCTV surveillance or use body-worn cameras to prevent allegations of unfair action.Police said sustained enforcement, along with public cooperation, is essential to bring down Jamshedpur’s road accident toll.
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