Craze for speed: Gen-Y tops violators’ list

Safety takes a backseat on the Millennium City's high-speed roads as callous motorists care little about using seatbelts and wearing helmets. Most motorists booked (served challans) in the past six months are the ones who did not use seatbelts. Leena Dhankhar reports.

Safety takes a backseat on the Millennium City's high-speed roads as callous motorists care little about using seatbelts and wearing helmets. Most motorists booked (served challans) in the past six months are the ones who did not use seatbelts. While around 21,241 challans were issued in January-June this year to such offenders, 21,337 drivers were fined for driving without helmets.

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The rising number of such offences is indicative of the fact that motorists on the city roads have scant regard for safety and run a very high risk of being caught in fatal accidents. Several drives conducted by the traffic police to propagate and implement safe driving have failed to yield results.

Unfortunately, even school children are seen driving without helmets and with two as pillion - besides not being holders of a driving licence. "I think parents are solely responsible for students riding two-wheelers which often lead to mishaps. Convenience over safety seems to be the mantra for the parents since most don't have time to drop them to tuitions. The young generation, which likes adventure, falls prey to peer pressure and is seen speeding on the roads. Wearing the helmet seems to be outdated. The parents need to pause, rethink their priorities and take a call," said Piya Sharma, school head, Ryan International School.

"The laws, too, need to be stringent and the police should be more vigilant for it is not only the law defaulters who suffer but the innocent victims also have to pay a price. So it's time for parents to reflect and think for the safety of their children and the society, too," added Sharma.

The Gurgaon traffic police have been conducting drives to spread awareness among the residents, but instead of guiding their children, the guardians support them when they are challaned and allow them to continue driving carelessly.

"Only social or personal appeal can convince people; penalising can't. We should insist that our neighbours use seat belts and ask the person driving a two-wheeler to put on a helmet. It should be enforced socially," said joint commissioner of police Maheshwar Dayal.

BOX -

Challans in January-June, 2013

Without seat belts - 21,241

Without helmets - 21,337

Wrong parking - 18,366

Wrong-lane driving - 12,750