More than 10,000 cases registered in Tirunelveli district against those riding without helmet

The Tirunelveli district police have booked more than 10,000 bike riders since January for not wearing helmets while 703 cases have been registered for rash driving that often cause accidents, including fatal mishaps and group clashes in rural areas.

Following complaints from the public, especially from the heads of educational institutions about rash driving and riding bikes without helmets near schools and the colleges, the police have intensified drive against youths riding bikes at lightning speed. Since rash driving also triggers the simmering caste enmity in rural areas, the police are cautiously handling these complaints by registering case against the bike riders who unleash terror on roads.

“When the police received complaints from the public about rash driving by the youth with high-end bikes in Panagudi, Kalanthapanai and Kaavalikinaru areas, special teams in plainclothes were deployed in these areas to spot these bike riders, who were booked immediately. Their bikes were also seized. The police are even closely monitoring the social media where the youth post videos showing their adventures and heroics with bikes. Anyone violating the traffic regulations with their bikes or cars are being booked immediately,” said Superintendent of Police N. Silambarasan citing the case registered against the occupants of an imported sedan as they were found sitting atop the car while driving at high speed near Nanguneri recently.

The SP also said that warning sign boards were being installed in the accident-prone areas and the police were conducting awareness events in schools and the colleges to tell the younger generation about the effects of rash driving and riding bikes without helmets.

“We are booking the under-aged children riding bikes and registering cases against their parents,” he said.

Consequent to these measures, fatal accidents in the district had dropped by 25% since 2023, Mr. Silambarasan said.

So far cases registered in Tirunelveli district for traffic rule violations in 2025: Racing 104 cases have been registered; drunk and driving – 1,523 cases; rash driving – 703 cases; riding bikes without helmets – 10,692 cases and driving car without fastening seat belt – 2,602 cases.