Hyderabad: The Cyberabad traffic police has begun a week-long exercise to educate two-wheeler riders on the importance of wearing helmets, ahead of the launch of making the wearing of helmets compulsory and penalising those who ignore the rule.

The road safety week of the Cyberabad traffic police which began on Tuesday will continue till January 12, “This is a prime opportunity to remind people about the importance of safety helmets, helmets save lives and reduce the risk of brain injury,” said ACP M. Sridhar Reddy of LB Nagar division.

He said that helmets are one of the most important components for the safety of two-wheeler riders. Head injury is one of the most dominant causes of deaths during motorcycle accidents, Mr Sridhar Reddy said.

Last year saw 282 fatal accidents involving motorcyclists, and more than 90 per cent of the victims had suffered head injuries, said a Cyberabad traffic police official.

“We have already started booking cases for not wearing helmets. We will educate people during the road safety week,” said DCP Avinash Mohanty. Motorcycle helmets are aimed at absorbing the impact of collision to the brain in case of an accident.

An official said that with this requirement in mind, among the first things that a two-wheeler rider should keep in mind while purchasing a helmet is the material from which it is made.

He said helmets made of lightweight and crack-resistant fibres and high-grade plastics are ideal. Impact resistance can be gauged from the shape and size of the helmets. One ought to educate oneself to ensure that they buy the right kind of helmet, the official said.