No petrol for helmet-less riders in Mumbai

Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) traffic department is set to launch a new campaign, along with petrol pump associations, to urge motorists to wear helmets.

Under the new campaign, helmet-less motorists visiting the petrol pump to refuel their vehicles will be asked to wear helmets before serving petrol. The traffic department also plans to rope in several city NGOs, whose volunteers will be stationed at major petrol pumps across the city along with trafic wardens.

If the riders are carrying a helmet, the wardens/volunteers will ask them to wear it. If they’re not carrying a helmet, they will talk them into buying helmets for themselves and the pillion riders. In case the motorists are adamant about not wearing a helmet, their bikes will not be refueled.

According to reports, traffic department may also try to convince the state government to serve a notice to petrol pumps to fill only minimal quantity of fuel for helmet-less riders.

While speaking to Times of India, traffic commissioner Sunil Paraskar said, “Motorcycle-related accidents result in many fatalities every year. In most of these accidents, people suffer serious head injuries that can be prevented by wearing helmets. We decided to conduct a campaign at petrol pumps as every motorcyclist needs to go there to refuel. We can reach out to maximum motorcyclists in the city in this way.”

A joint meeting between the traffic police authorities and owners/representatives of petrol pumps has been organised by petrol pump association on July 11. Decisions like implementation and execution of the campaign will be discussed by traffic police officials and owners of over 150 petrol pump owners in the meeting.

With inputs from TOI