2.13 lakh helmet cases booked in Vizag since January

Visakhapatnam: Not wearing helmets remains the most common traffic violation in the Vizag city commissionerate, accounting for over half of all cases booked. Between January 1 and June 25, 2026, traffic police registered more than 2.13 lakh cases against riders for riding without helmets, including instances where pillion riders were not wearing headgear.On average, police book 800–1,000 cases daily involving riders without helmets and around 200 cases involving pillion riders. Helmet violations continue to top the list of traffic offences. Officials said some motorists use low-quality, non-ISI helmets to evade checks, compromising safety.According to ministry of road transport and highways (MoRTH) data, 4,276 two-wheeler users, including 506 women, died in road accidents in Andhra Pradesh in 2024.

Of these, 2,353 riders and 964 pillion riders were not wearing helmets. The data also shows 4,283 riders and 2,267 pillion riders were injured in crashes for the same reason.Usage of safety devices such as helmets and seatbelts is critical for averting fatal and grievous injuries in the event of road occurrence accidents. Helmets are mandatory for all motorists on two-wheelers, barring few exemptions Helmet violations continue to dominate Vizag’s traffic offence list, accounting for nearly 50 to 60 per cent of all cases booked in the city.

As per the MV Act rules, every person should wear protective gear while driving or riding pillion on a two-wheeler, and if any person was found riding a two-wheeler without a helmet, he or she was fined Rs 1,035. “In addition to the penalty, we have been collecting the driving licence details of violators and forwarding these details to RTA personnel, requesting suspension of the driving licences of those in violation,” the traffic police added.