IMPHAL, Sept 7 - The Manipur State Transport Department is planning to conduct a special road safety drive till September 25. The initiative has been taken to check rampant violation of traffic rules by two-wheeler riders, leading to fatal road accidents. The objective is to create public awareness and increase road safety, an official notification stated.
The notification signed by State Chief Secretary Dr J Suresh Babu, said that the scheme of �no helmet, no petrol� was introduced in all retail petrol outlets of the Indian Oil Corporation and the BPCL to promote the wearing of protective headgear.
�Despite these standing instructions, it has been observed that compliance to this effort has been very poor,� the notification added. Non-compliance is not only a violation of relevant Acts and rules, but it has also increased incidents of avoidable deaths due to road accidents, it stated.
The notification also pointed out that as per the provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act 1988, use of headgear is compulsory. Manufacturers and dealers of two-wheelers have to supply at least one protective headgear or helmet to a buyer (with some exceptions) and riders should wear helmets that meet the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) guidelines and have standard marks/stickers showing their safety approval.
To ensure compliance with the rules, the notification affirmed that it will be necessary for dealers to submit BIS standard certification at the time of registration for issue of trade certificate, and those who fail to comply, will have their trade certificate cancelled by the Transport Department.
The special road safety drive will be carried out till September 25 and all two-wheeler owners and riders have been asked to purchase helmets by September 24. The drive will help in increasing compliance with road safety instructions issued by the State Government from time to time and prevent accidents, it added.
Two-wheeler riders not using helmets after the end of the drive period (September 25) will be fined Rs 1,000 as per the MVA, 1988, the notification warned.
Workshop: A sensitisation workshop on various schemes of the Government organised by the district administration of Thoubal was held at the conference hall of the Thoubal DC on Saturday.
Thoubal DC N Bandana Devi advised the Block Development Officers, Zilla Parishad members, councillors, elected members and officers to implement the various programmes and schemes taken up by the Government. She asked the elected members, pradhans and others concerned to make the public aware of government schemes and programmes.
