Reinforcing its focus on road safety, the Gujarat government on Friday launched a month-long special drive across the state to strictly implement the helmet rule. The campaign has begun from government offices themselves, making helmet use compulsory for all officers and employees commuting on two-wheelers.
Officials said strict action will be taken against violators, with on-the-spot fines being imposed without any exemption based on rank or designation. The government said the initiative is aimed at encouraging public servants to set an example by following traffic regulations.
A notification issued by the police department on Thursday directed strict enforcement of the helmet rule under Section 129 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. As part of the drive, traffic police personnel will be stationed outside government offices across Gujarat to check whether two-wheeler riders and pillion passengers are wearing helmets.
Authorities have been instructed to maintain a zero-tolerance approach toward violations during the campaign.
The notification also introduced a daily reporting mechanism for the enforcement drive. Police commissioners and range officers have been directed to submit detailed reports to the state headquarters by 8 am every day, mentioning the number of violations recorded among government employees and the general public, along with details of fines collected the previous day.
Officials noted that a similar campaign led earlier by Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi in Surat had shown encouraging results. The same model is now being expanded to major cities including Ahmedabad, Rajkot and Vadodara, besides several smaller districts across the state.
Officials added that the main objective of the campaign is not merely to issue fines, but to increase awareness about road safety and help reduce accident-related fatalities.