No petrol for two-wheeler riders without helmet, announces Kerala govt

Thiruvananthapuram: Concerned over increasing number of road accidents involving two-wheeler riders in the state, the Kerala government on Wednesday announced those not wearing helmets would not be allowed to fill petrol for their vehicles from August 1.

"Two-wheeler riders not wearing helmets would be denied petrol at pumps and necessary instructions in this regard had been issued to oil companies and petrol pump owners," Transport Commissioner Tomin J Thachankary said here.

This would be first implemented on a pilot basis in the corporation limits of Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam and Kozhikode from August 1 and later extended to other districts, he said.

Thachankary said he had held discussions with oil companies, dealers and pump owners and had asked them not to provide petrol to two wheeler riders without helmets, to which they had agreed.

In Kerala, 50 per cent of those killed in road accidents are motorcycle riders and 80 per cent of the deaths are caused due to head injuries, an official release said.

In 2015, 14,482 motor accident cases were reported in Kerala resulting in the death of 1,330 persons, it said.