traffic warden engaged in an argument with a motorcyclist is a common sight at any given traffic signal in the city. The reason is invariably the biker going without a safety helmet.

Following the recent orders of the Lahore High Court (LHC), the traffic police have launched a fresh drive to check violations with regard to traffic rules and regulations, chiefly the use of safety helmets. “This is the third drive of its kind in the city in two decades,” comments Habib Chohan, a local journalist. He recalls the first tough crackdown on helmet violators in 2004-05, during Chaudhry Parvez Elahi’s tenure as chief minister.

In September 2018, a similar campaign was started after the court ordered the then chief traffic officer (CTO) to take strict action against the violators. A fine of Rs 1,000 was recommended. The court was responding to a petition filed by social worker Abdullah Malik, who had drawn the court’s attention to the rising number of road accidents resulting from a general disregard for traffic rules.

The latest recommendation is for raising the fine amount to Rs 2,000. It remains to be seen whether that can be an effective deterrent.

This scribe visited a number of spots in Gulberg recently and found that each ticket issued had a painful story behind it which affected the lives of both the violator and the warden on duty at the time. At the Main Market signal, a teenage boy who had been caught by the warden for not wearing a helmet was found imploring, “Sir, I’m a student; I am going to the tuition academy to pick up my sister. I was in a rush, and forgot the helmet. Please forgive me and let me go.”

“No, I’ll have to impound the bike, as you aren’t carrying a helmet as well as your CNIC,” the warden replied. “If you had your CNIC on you, I’d have kept the documents and let you go.”

The matter was resolved after the boy agreed to leave his bike with the warden and hurried to fetch his father’s CNIC so that a challan ticket could be issued.

The ongoing helmet enforcement campaign is crucial for road safety. Through strict enforcement, the city traffic police aim to protect the lives of the citizens and promote responsible driving on Lahore’s busy roads.

The latest drive is fired up by LHC’s Green Bench, led by Justice Shahid Kareem. According to Deputy Inspector General (DIG), Police, Mirza Faran Baig, between July 4 and July 26, the traffic police have ticketed 713,860 non-helmeted riders and collected Rs 142.77 million from across the Punjab. The number of vehicles impounded stands at 64,233.

In Lahore, the campaign has already made a significant impact, with action taken against a staggering 1.125 million non-helmeted motorcyclists. In July alone, the traffic police have taken action against 416,000 motorcycles found violating the helmet rule. In various sectors, 79,222 motorcycles were impounded, and documents of 218,505 motorcycles were seized for non-compliance.

“The focus is not merely on issuing challans but also on safeguarding the lives of citizens. The goal is to encourage responsible behaviour among all road users,” says IG Usman Anwar.

The traffic police are not just targeting the non-helmeted motorcyclists but also checking their licences. Any rider found without a licence is fined. Inspector General Dr Usman Anwar has reiterated that no one, including police personnel and government employees, is exempt from the helmet rule. “The focus is not merely on issuing challans but also on safeguarding the lives of citizens. The goal is to encourage responsible behaviour among all road users,” he says.

The results so far are highly encouraging. According to data provided by Rescue 1122, during the first six months of 2022, a tragic total of 263 people lost their lives in traffic accidents in Lahore. However, during the corresponding period in 2023, the number has dropped to 193, indicating a 35 percent reduction in fatal accidents.

Lahore’s road safety record has been alarming, with traffic accidents topping the charts for causes of death in the city. Of those fatalities, a staggering 74 percent were motorcyclists. The helmet enforcement campaign seeks to protect the lives of motorcyclists.

Dr Anwar says that the traffic police are implementing a strict “no-helmet, no-fuel” policy which has begun to show results. Additionally, no-parking zones are being enforced strictly to prevent congestion and reduce the risk of road accidents.

The campaign’s focus extends to major roads in Lahore, including The Mall, Jail Road, Canal Road and Main Boulevard, Gulberg, which routinely witness heavy traffic, making strict adherence to traffic rules a priority.

“The task is laborious given the number of the registered two-wheelers in Lahore,” says a senior traffic warden. There are an estimated seven million registered motorcycles in Lahore region alone.

Besides saving lives, strict enforcement of traffic rules is expected to alleviate the burden on hospitals. By preventing injuries and fatalities, the campaign aims to reduce the overwhelming number of accident-related cases.

Dr Muzzammil Hussain, who heads the emergency ward of Ganga Ram Hospital, says, “Since helmet was made mandatory, we’ve witnessed a decline in patients with injuries.”

He also says that wearing a helmet should not be perceived as a way to avoid fines, but as a means to save lives. The ultimate goal of the campaign is to instill a culture of responsible driving and protect citizens from harm, he adds.

The writer is a media veteran interested in politics, consumer rights and entrepreneurship