‘No Helmet - No Petrol’ fails to cut the mustard
By Express News Service | Published: 10th October 2017 03:12 AM |
Last Updated: 10th October 2017 08:18 AM | A+A A- |
Traffic police imposing fines on riders for not wearing a helmet at IGMC stadium in Vijayawada on Monday | Express
VIJAYAWADA: The novel idea of Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu - ‘No Helmet - No Petrol’- to make every two-wheeler in the State wear helmet and four-wheeler to wear a seatbelt while driving seems to have lost its initial ardour with none of the petrol bunk operators following the instructions.
On September 28, Naidu took the decision to implement ‘No Helmet - No Petrol’ across the State from October 1. Naidu expressed his concern stating that many passengers have lost their lives in roads accidents only because they did not wear helmets or seat belts.
Naidu further appealed to people to wear a helmet as it helps save lives and not for the sake of the government or police. “People should change their mindset and know that we are enforcing the helmet norm for the sake of the public. 35 per cent of the total deaths due to road accidents can be reduced.”
In the meeting held on Monday, Director General of Police (DGP) N Sambasiva Rao too expressed the same concern that two-wheelers are feeling the helmet to be a burden and coming up with various excuses. He further said police has nothing to do with enforcing the “No Helmet- No Petrol”.
“It’s the duty of petrol bunks to stop filling petrol for those who do not wear helmets. We already gave instructions to all fuel filling stations not to fill petrol for two-wheelers and four-wheelers, failing to wear helmets and seat belts,” said Sambasiva Rao. In this regard, the CM has sanctioned `10 crore for equipment to implement this rule. He also ordered officials to conduct a weekly check on the motorists for effective implementation of the rule.
Police Commissioner D Gautam Sawang too announced that the rule would be implemented in the Commissionerate from October 1. He said strict instructions have been given to all petrol bunks in the city not to fill petrol if the bike rider comes without a headgear. “We thought that the new traffic rule is likely to make a huge difference in the State. But, much to our surprise, it failed in the very first week in its implementation,” a senior police officer said on the condition of anonymity.
