Bhubaneswar, Feb.14: Biking without a helmet has emerged as the biggest headache for traffic officials in the city, police statistics have revealed.

Despite frequent crackdowns and imposition of fines of Rs 500, people continue to ride motorcycles without helmets. The Telegraph has obtained the report, compiled by the police, which reveals that violation of the helmet rule constituted more than 45 per cent of traffic offences in the city.

The Supreme Court Committee on Road Safety, headed by Justice K.S. Radhakrishnan, has directed all state governments to take stringent action against such violations, including suspension of driving licences of the offenders. But even such measures have not been able to deter commuters from flouting the rules.

The police said that most of these offenders were college students. "Several youths working for private companies also do not wear helmets. We have been conducting drives in educational institutes about the benefits of wearing a helmet," said a police officer, adding that in case of an accident, the use of helmets could alone reduce chances of death by nearly 30 per cent.

Transport officials said that they were planning to launch a helmet campaign with the help of petrol pump owners. The officials will urge petrol pump owners not to fill the fuel tanks of bikers who would be driving without a helmet."We will continue the crackdown on traffic offenders. We will also conduct more drives to make people aware of traffic norms," said assistant commissioner of police (traffic) Jatindra Kumar Panda.