Chitradurga: Police in Molakalmuru of Chitradurga district have found an innovative way to enforce traffic rules in villages by seizing motorcycles of riders without helmets and returning them only after they produce and wear one. Instead of imposing fines, police focused on encouraging safe riding habits, and the initiative has yielded promising results, with rural commuters, including senior citizens, making helmets a part of their daily routine.Under conventional traffic enforcement drives, police penalise helmetless riders under the Motor Vehicles Act. The state govt has also made helmets mandatory for two-wheeler riders. However, police realised that monetary penalties often failed to bring about lasting behavioural change.Molakalmuru officers adopted a practical, people-friendly approach. Rather than fining violators, they temporarily detained their two-wheelers and informed riders that the vehicles would be released immediately once they arrived wearing a helmet, whether newly purchased or brought from home.No cash fines were imposed during the campaign, with the focus remaining entirely on safety rather than punishment.The impact was immediate. Rural roads that once saw widespread non-compliance now witness most riders wearing helmets. The initiative has also broken the notion that safety gear is only for young urban commuters, with elderly villagers routinely wearing helmets before travelling.“When you fine a villager, it feels like punishment, but when you insist on a helmet, it feels like care,” said Mahesh Hosapete, PSI of Molakalmuru.“Allowing people to bring an existing helmet from home removed the financial burden and made safety the only priority. The behavioural shift across age groups has been remarkable. We have released more than 150 vehicles only after riders wore helmets,” he said.Civic groups and local leaders have widely praised the initiative, saying it prioritises behavioural change over revenue collection and offers a model for improving rural road safety.“This innovative idea by Molakalmuru police has made a difference. The purpose of the Motor Vehicles Act provision is safety. Penalising alone is not a solution, but temporarily seizing a vehicle and releasing it after the rider wears a helmet has had a positive impact in our area,” said local resident Tippeswamy KM.
