Hyderabad: Justice Abhay Manohar Sapre (retd), Chairman of the Supreme Court Committee on Road Safety, appealed to Telangana citizens to make helmets and seat belts a daily habit. He said these simple precautions remained the most effective way to prevent road deaths. Moreover, he stressed that safety was not only about individuals but also about protecting families from avoidable tragedies.
Helmets and seat belts linked to 2024 fatalities
Accident data from the police showed that 3,137 people lost their lives in 2024 due to not wearing helmets. Another 482 deaths occurred because drivers and passengers failed to fasten seat belts. Justice Sapre said each number represented a human life and a grieving family. Therefore, he urged every road user to take personal responsibility for safety.
He explained that helmets and seat belts drastically lowered the chances of severe injury in a crash. In addition, he reminded citizens that using these devices was not optional since the law required compliance. According to him, following this rule could mean the difference between survival and loss.
Call for awareness and collective effort
Justice Sapre, on a two-day visit to Telangana, highlighted the urgent need for public awareness drives. He suggested that schools, police officers, doctors and drivers must join as volunteers to spread the message. Consequently, he said collaboration between officials and the community could strengthen road safety campaigns.
He emphasized that helmets and seat belts were cost-effective and reliable. Unlike complex interventions, these devices required no technology but delivered proven protection. Furthermore, he said their consistent use would reduce pressure on healthcare systems and save families from financial and emotional stress. He concluded that road safety must become a shared responsibility, and small changes in behavior could prevent thousands of deaths each year.
