Riders were stopped and sisters were made to gift them helmets for safety
Pilibhit : Ahead of Rakshabandhan , Uttar Pradesh road transport department organised a unique road safety initiative at Assam Crossing on Pilibhit-Basti national highway (NH-731) on Wednesday, encouraging sisters to gift free helmets to their brothers riding two-wheelers without protective headgear. During the drive, transport officials stopped two-wheeler riders without helmets and arranged for their sisters to present them with the headgear. The campaign aimed to connect the festival’s traditional theme of protection with life-saving road safety habits.
Between January and July this year, 99 two-wheeler riders lost their lives in road accidents across Pilibhit—averaging 14 deaths per month. Officials noted that all 99 victims were found without helmets at the accident spots. Highlighting the need for the campaign, assistant regional transport officer (ARTO) Sushil Kumar Mishra revealed alarming traffic collision statistics for the district.
Mishra emphasised that the initiative encourages female family members to actively ensure their relatives wear headgear on every journey, regardless of the distance. He added that tying road safety to the emotional bond of Rakshabandhan shifts helmet usage from a matter of legal compliance to a vital promise of family protection. The department also issued a stern warning that strict legal action will be taken against helmetless riders moving forward.