Helmet sales spike after Vellore traffic police begin strict enforcement of rules

Hearing about the stricter enforcement, a wholesale helmet dealer from Chennai, M Shahinsha, has opened a shop on Bengaluru Road.

A traffic police officer said, “On the first day [December 2], we booked 650 cases, 700 on the second day, and around 400 each on the third and fourth days. (Representative image)

VELLORE: Motorcycle helmet sales in the city have witnessed an unforeseen spike in the last few days, a direct consequence of the Vellore traffic police strictly enforcing the helmet rules since the beginning of the month and imposing a penalty of Rs 1,000 on motorists riding without helmets. Helmet shops have begun prominently advertising their businesses, with the police saying at least 20 new shops have sprung up across the city to cater to the demand.

In front of one such shop on Thottapalayam Road, the owners have set up a separate stall for helmets outside their premises. With an increase in footfall, there's no space inside, said staff member J Nirmala, adding the stall helps with more visibility. "Around 50 helmets are sold daily from the stall, with more sales happening inside. A lot of people are buying [helmets] to avoid the penalty," she added.

Hearing about the stricter enforcement, a wholesale helmet dealer from Chennai, M Shahinsha, has opened a shop on Bengaluru Road. He said, “Sales are good. I plan to keep the shop here permanently. Most people prefer branded helmets." However, some customers are still hesitant about using helmets. One consumer at Shahinsha’s shop expressed concerns about hearing vehicle horns and obstructions to peripheral vision while wearing helmets. The shopkeeper reassured the person, explaining helmets do not impair hearing and that side mirrors help with visibility. “They just need time to adjust,” he added.

The traffic police began enforcing the rules starting December 2, as the first day of the month witnessed heavy rainfall. A traffic police officer said, “On the first day [December 2], we booked 650 cases, 700 on the second day, and around 400 each on the third and fourth days. The adherence to helmet rules has certainly increased.”

Although more people are seen wearing helmets now, many just put them on without fastening the buckle, on which, the police said they would spread awareness. To encourage wearing helmets, the police on December 2 distributed gifts such as trinkets, keychains and pens to motorists wearing helmets.

For stricter enforcement, traffic police personnel are deployed at key junctions; they also crack down on violators using automatic number plate recognition cameras. We are only booking cases against the violators at the moment, said a police officer. “If repeat offenders are caught, we plan to stop them and let them go only after they buy helmets,” the officer added.