The traffic wing of East Singhbhum district police has tightened the noose around two-wheeler riders in Jamshedpur by making the helmet mandatory for those rising pillion, but has turned a blind eye to dumpers flouting no-entry restrictions.
Most of the over 150 dumpers that ply on city roads are not equipped with speed governors made mandatory by the Motor Vehicles Rules to limit the speed of heavy vehicles at 60kmph.
The dumpers, mostly used to carry slag, fly-ash and building materials, operate at a moderate speed during the day, but are guilty of reckless driving at night. And yet, they don’t face the stick.
On Sunday, two-wheeler rider Sunil Srivastava had to cough up Rs 270 in Bistupur for letting his son ride pillion without a helmet.
“I had no knowledge that the traffic police have made helmet compulsory for the pillion-rider. I was going to consult a doctor in Sakchi, but had to cancel because I had to wait at Bistupur thana to release my vehicle,” Srivastava (48), a resident of Bagbera, said.
Over 40 two-wheeler riders were caught by traffic police for violating the rule on Sunday. Traffic DSP Vivekanand Thakur said they had started a helmet checking drive for the safety of pillion-riders.
“We started the drive a week ago and will continue it on a daily basis at traffic thana areas in Sakchi, Bistupur, Jugsalai, Mango and Golmuri until every pillion-rider follows the rule,” Thakur said.
However, the DSP had no explanation for the traffic police’s nonchalance towards errant dumpers.
A senior officer in the department said, “Dumper operators enjoy relaxation because they are busy in the development work of the city. Several construction projects are underway. These dumpers carry slag and construction materials. We cannot stop them,” the officer reasoned.
The no-entry rule remains effective from 6am to 10.30am. It comes into force again from noon to 2.30pm and a third time from 5.30pm to 11pm.
Around 80 people, mostly two-wheeler riders and pedestrians, die in road mishaps in Jamshedpur every year. Several of them fall victim to speeding dumpers.
Motor vehicles inspector Awadhesh Kumar Singh said heavy commercial vehicles, including dumpers, should be equipped with speed governors.
“However, only 5 per cent have these devices even though over a year has lapsed since the new Motor Vehicles Rule was made mandatory,” he said.
Singh added that the number of road accidents would go down significantly once the gadgets are used.
City SP Prashant Anand said operators should conform to the traffic rules.
“Traffic rules should be followed by all operators, including those manning heavy vehicle, so that road accidents can be avoided,” Anand said, adding that he would check whether dumpers took any special permission to enter the city.
Date: February 11, 2017