<p>Kerala has proposed a rule under which helmet-less riders are denied petrol at fuel stations in three cities in the state. The move aims at better implementation of the rule which makes helmets compulsory for two-wheeler riders in the state. <br /><br /></p>.<p>Transport Commissioner Tomin J Thachankary said on Wednesday that the rule will be in force from August 1 in Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi and Kozhikode corporation limits.<br /><br />The commissioner said the move is backed with necessary legal cover and the decision came in the wake of discussions with representatives of prominent oil companies.<br /><br /> “The Motor Vehicles Department and the police will be entrusted with implementation of the rule,” he told reporters here. <br /><br />Information regarding the rule will be displayed at fuel stations in the three cities.<br /><br />Enforcement squads will be stationed at the pumps to monitor implementation of the directive. <br /><br />The Motor Vehicles Department is looking at the possibilities of what it calls a “pilot project” and based on the success of the project, is hoping to extend it to other parts of the state. <br /><br />Minister for Transport A K Saseendran said it was a pilot initiative and the government was open to have a re-look on the rule if it leads to inconvenience to the public.<br /><br />Kerala has tried the no-helmet-no-petrol rule in one-off experiments in districts, with limited success. <br /><br />Incentives <br /><br />The Motor Vehicles Department has also offered incentives like free helmets at the time of purchasing the vehicles but the drive to implement the mandatory-helmet rule has failed to achieve the desired results. <br /><br />As per provisions in the proposed Road Safety Bill, helmet-less riding could attract a fine of Rs 2,500.<br /><br />The latest move comes amid reports that trace an alarming rise in the number of deaths in two-wheeler accidents. <br /><br />According to Motor Vehicles Department statistics, half of the people killed in the state’s road accidents are two-wheeler riders. <br /><br />Head injuries cause about 80% of these deaths; the department puts the number of deaths of two-wheeler riders with helmets as “marginal”. Last year, Kerala recorded 1,330 deaths from 14,482 two-wheeler accidents.<br /></p>
<p>Kerala has proposed a rule under which helmet-less riders are denied petrol at fuel stations in three cities in the state. The move aims at better implementation of the rule which makes helmets compulsory for two-wheeler riders in the state. <br /><br /></p>.<p>Transport Commissioner Tomin J Thachankary said on Wednesday that the rule will be in force from August 1 in Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi and Kozhikode corporation limits.<br /><br />The commissioner said the move is backed with necessary legal cover and the decision came in the wake of discussions with representatives of prominent oil companies.<br /><br /> “The Motor Vehicles Department and the police will be entrusted with implementation of the rule,” he told reporters here. <br /><br />Information regarding the rule will be displayed at fuel stations in the three cities.<br /><br />Enforcement squads will be stationed at the pumps to monitor implementation of the directive. <br /><br />The Motor Vehicles Department is looking at the possibilities of what it calls a “pilot project” and based on the success of the project, is hoping to extend it to other parts of the state. <br /><br />Minister for Transport A K Saseendran said it was a pilot initiative and the government was open to have a re-look on the rule if it leads to inconvenience to the public.<br /><br />Kerala has tried the no-helmet-no-petrol rule in one-off experiments in districts, with limited success. <br /><br />Incentives <br /><br />The Motor Vehicles Department has also offered incentives like free helmets at the time of purchasing the vehicles but the drive to implement the mandatory-helmet rule has failed to achieve the desired results. <br /><br />As per provisions in the proposed Road Safety Bill, helmet-less riding could attract a fine of Rs 2,500.<br /><br />The latest move comes amid reports that trace an alarming rise in the number of deaths in two-wheeler accidents. <br /><br />According to Motor Vehicles Department statistics, half of the people killed in the state’s road accidents are two-wheeler riders. <br /><br />Head injuries cause about 80% of these deaths; the department puts the number of deaths of two-wheeler riders with helmets as “marginal”. Last year, Kerala recorded 1,330 deaths from 14,482 two-wheeler accidents.<br /></p>
