Ahmedabad: Putting rider safety into focus yet again, the govt on Friday launched a month-long intensive drive across Gujarat to strictly enforce the helmet rule. The govt began the drive from its own offices, making helmets mandatory for officers and employees. Those flouting the rule face on-the-spot fines, with no exemptions based on rank or position. The move is aimed at ensuring that public servants lead by example in adhering to traffic laws, officials said.A police department notification issued on Thursday mandates strict enforcement of helmet rule under Section 129 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. It states that traffic police personnel will be deployed at entrances of govt offices across the state to check if two-wheeler riders, including pillion passengers, are wearing helmets. They have been instructed to follow a zero-tolerance rule on violations.The notification also lists a key feature of the drive — daily reporting. Police commissioners and range heads must submit detailed reports to state headquarters by 8am each day, outlining the number of violations by govt staff and the public recorded the previous day. The report must also include the fines collected. An earlier such campaign was led by deputy chief minister Harsh Sanghavi, where stricter enforcement in Surat showed positive results. The model is now being replicated in major cities like Ahmedabad, Rajkot and Vadodara, along with smaller districts. Officials stated that the primary goal is not just penal action but improving road safety awareness and reducing accident rates.
