Trade
6 years ago

98pc double ride bikers use helmets in city

Boom time for headgear sales

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Now 98 per cent bikers use crash helmets while double riding in the city as the strict monitoring by law enforcers pays off.

The riders are abiding by the traffic rules following a recent student movement and the ongoing month-long police campaign for road safety.

Police, traders and commuters are quick to say that this trend has led to a sharp rise in helmet sales.

They said there has been a rise in the number of helmet wearers, meaning the bikers and pillion passengers are now compliant.

The FE talked to traffic police, bikers, commuters and helmet sellers in many city areas on Saturday to independently verify the matter.

Sumon, a businessman at Shyamoli, said the use of helmets by motorbikers has risen substantially, which was a rare sight even two months back.

Credit goes to young students for showing the nation how to bring discipline in the streets, he cited.

Traffic sergeant Ahsan Habib at the Golapshah Mazar signal point said the riders are now more cautious while taking passengers behind them.

He hardly found anyone without helmets while sharing his or her bikes between 12:00pm and 3:00pm on the day, he told the FE.

Assistant sub-inspector Nazmul Huque, who had been on duty at the Bailey Road intersection near the Officers' Club since morning, also drew the same picture.

"I hardly find any bikers violating the traffic rules these days," he said in an upbeat note.

The number of cases related to this matter has decreased drastically as dual riders wear protective headgear, he mentioned.

Constable Nazrul Islam had been on duty at Banglamotor since morning and he saw the people riding double on motorcycles with helmets worn by almost cent per cent.

Anwar, proprietor of Tareq Auto at Bangshal, told the FE that he now sells at least 20 helmets a day.

It was not more than 10 before the students' campaign, he said.

"The sales rate has been 100 per cent in recent times," Mr Anwar added. Aminul Islam, who owns AL-Baraka Motors at Banglamotor, sold five helmets on the day.

It was tough for them to sell a single helmet a day even three months ago, but things have changed now.

Abu Sayem, an official of Wings BD Ltd on New Eskaton Road in Moghbazar, said there has been a 95 per cent rise in helmet sales.

Actor Ilias Kanchan, who spearheads the flagship 'Nirapad Sarak Chai' movement, told the FE that this is positive that bikers are now using helmets.

But the users need hands-on training before riding in the city's streets and should tie up helmets perfectly, he suggested.

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