Mumbai, April 10 The Maharashtra police has issued a directive making helmets mandatory for all personnel in the force while riding two-wheelers, an official said on Friday.
Citing official data, he said helmet compliance among police personnel is unsatisfactory in most districts, barring Mumbai and Nagpur. While helmet usage in Mumbai and Nagpur exceeds 80 per cent, it remains below 20 per cent in other cities and districts of the state, he added.
The order issued by Additional Director General of Police (Traffic) Pravin Salunkhe warned that officers or personnel found violating road safety rules will not only face monetary fines under the Motor Vehicles Act but will also have a formal entry of misconduct inserted in their service record.
The official said the directive comes after a review meeting held by state DGP Sadanand Date in Nagpur earlier this month. Concerns were raised about the alarmingly low rate of helmet usage among police staff in several parts of the state, the official added.
"According to data from the state highway police, nearly 35-40 per cent of fatalities in traffic accidents involve two-wheeler riders. Wearing a helmet significantly reduces the risk of death or serious injury. All commissioners and superintendents of police have been directed to ensure immediate implementation of the order," the official said.
Salunkhe's order emphasised that it was for the police to lead by example as primary enforcers of the law.
A deliberate breach of these rules will be treated as a disciplinary matter, the order warned.
"This move is an effort to improve the public image of the force and reduce the high rate of road casualties among off-duty and on-duty police personnel," the official added.