The Karur district has witnessed an increase in the number of helmetless two-wheeler riders killed in road accidents this year. In some cases, the pillion riders who did not wear helmets were killed.

The number of deaths of two-wheeler riders without helmet killed in road accident was 160 in the calendar year 2024. This number rose to 165 till August this calendar year causing concern to the district policewho had been conducting awareness programmes regularly and also enforcing the rule strictly by booking cases against those riding two-wheelers without wearing helmets.

In some cases, the victims had slipped into comatose state causing immense pain and agony to their family members, said Karur Superintendent of Police Josh Thangaiah.

Deaths of two-wheeler riders, including those in the pillion, without helmets in road accidents had been on the rise in the district. In one instance, three persons riding a motorcycle died in Kulithalai sub-division in a road accident, the police said. 

Karur police district consists three sub-divisions of Karur Town, Karur Rural, and Kulithalai with the number of law and order police stations being 18 besides traffic units.  As part of their campaigns to raise awareness among people on the importance of wearing a helmet while riding a two-wheeler, the district police have installed vinyl banners at 10 vantage spots all over the district.

The banners contain only the numbers 160 and 165 to evoke curiosity among members of the public. They carry a note at the bottom: “Stay Tuned for Update on 06/09/2025. “ The sources said the two numbers referred to the number of those killed in road accidents whil e riding two-wheelers without wearing helmets in the year 2024 and in 2025 (up to August) respectively.

These banners have been put up at prominent places, including Vangalpalayam in Karur, Pasupathipalayam, Velayumthampalayam, Aravakurichi, and Kulithalai, Mr. Thangaiah said. The existing banners would be replaced on September 6 with the updated figures, the SP added. 

The banners had been installed to sensitise the general public to the need to wear a helmet while riding a two-wheeler for their own safety and keeping in mind the welfare of their family members, said the sources.