‘No helmet, no petrol’ rule in Kerala soon

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan on Friday reiterated compulsory wearing of seatbelts for all occupants of four wheelers.

At a press conference he said that health was not just giving medicines and safety on the roads was also a major health issue. “We lost Gopinath Munde only because he was not wearing seatbelt. Had he worn the belt, the trivial shock due to accident would not have taken his life,’’ he said.

Dr Harsh Vardhan recollected that within 24 hours of that Mude incident another accident occurred in Delhi involving RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat. His car was hit by a set of vehicles but nothing untoward happened because he was wearing seat belt, the union minister said.

“Within next week Uttarakhand chief minister Harish Rawat met with an accident. His head banged against the roof of small aircraft by which he was travelling and he sustained serious injuries to upper cervical spine. He was not wearing seat belt,’’ the minister reminded.

Dr Harsh Vardhan said he had given a list of suggestions to Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari and very strongly recommended that all issues which concern the safety of people on the roads and which can be strengthened with the help of law, should be implemented at the earliest. “I have gone to the extent of recommending that all those who don't wear helmets should not be given petrol at the petrol pumps,’’ he said.