International experts to train traffic cops to enforce helmet use in Mumbai

Renowned international experts, who are working in the field of road safety for years will now train RTO inspectors and traffic police about how to enforce the use of helmets effectively, with on-field training.

Despite the continued efforts of transport and traffic authorities, a majority of Mumbaiites are reluctant to use helmets while riding two wheelers even though it could save their lives in case of an accident.

Under the Bloomberg initiative, RTO inspectors and traffic cops will get this training at the Byculla-based traffic police training institute on Wednesday. About 60-70 police officers including RTO inspectors are expected to attend this special day-long training. (HT)

Renowned international experts, who are working in the field of road safety for years will now train RTO inspectors and traffic police about how to enforce the use of helmets effectively, with on-field training.

Under the Bloomberg initiative, RTO inspectors and traffic cops will get this training at the Byculla-based traffic police training institute on Wednesday. About 60-70 police officers including RTO inspectors are expected to attend this special day-long training.

Dr Judy Fleiter, a road safety expert from Centre for Accident Research and Road Safety – Queensland, Des Myers, an International Road Safety and Road Policing Expert and Gayle DiPietro, global manager for the Bloomberg Philanthropies Global Road Safety Programme, will train the police officers during the programme.

A senior RTO official said the training focused only on importance of helmets and police will be given training on how to enforce helmet use effectively. This will include where and how to conduct helmet-use campaigns. How to collect data and use it effectively, for making more and more riders to use helmets while riding two wheelers.

Mumbai witnesses the highest number of around 25,000 accidents, in the state in a year. Among those the number of two-wheeler accidents is quite high. Officials said the number of fatalities in two-wheeler accidents will certainly go down if every rider start using helmets while on two wheelers.