CONFRONTING the surge in road accidents and driver negligence, the Bhopal Traffic Police have adopted a tough yet com passionate approach. The drive aimed to move beyond mere revenue collection from fines to focus on saving lives through behavioural change. Assistant Commissioner of Police (Zone-04) Devendra Singh Yadav, while leading the drive, stated: "Preventing the loss of life in road accidents is our top most priority. We have observed that many precious lives are lost simply because of the absence of a helmet. Today’s action is not meant to harass the public with challans, but to instill a sense of responsibility toward personal safety.

 

We want every two-wheel er rider to view a helmet not as a legal burden, but as their personal 'Security Shield' (Suraksha Kavach)." Data suggests that a significant number of fatalities in road accidents involve riders without helmets. Addressing this, a team comprising ACP Devendra Singh Yadav, Inspector Aarti Katija, and Subedar Lala Bana intercepted non-compliant riders. While a compounding fee of Rs 300 was recovered from violators as per the law, the police followed it up with a unique gesture: every violator was presented with a brand new helmet and a red rose.

 

This humanitarian initiative was designed to make riders realise the value of their lives to their families. Additionally, commuters at the toll plaza were administered a formal oath to mandatorily wear helmets and strictly adhere to traffic regulations. Recognising the critical importance of medical intervention during the ‘Golden Hour’ (the first hour following an acci dent), the police also organised a training camp for local shop keepers and residents living near identified ‘Black Spots’ areas prone to frequent accidents. ACP Yadav demonstrated the effective use of first aid boxes and briefed locals under the Rahgir Yojana. The training focused on how to assist injured victims on the road and trans port them to hospitals without the fear of legal complications or police harassment.