No helmet? No petrol, say Kerala authorities

Upset with spiralling road accidents the state transport department is planning a clampdown on erring two- wheelers who cause almost 55% of road accidents in the state.

“We have given strict instructions to petrol stations not to give fuel if the rider is not wearing a protective head gear. Initially we are starting it with three cities (Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi and Kozhikkode) but later it will be spread out to other cities and towns,” said state transport commissioner Tomin J Thachankary.

The department will also instruct oil companies to keep a tab on filling stations. “We have asked petrol pump owners to install CCTV cameras in their outlets. And these cameras will be connected to a central desk to monitor filling stations,” he said.

In Kerala, about 55% of those killed in accidents are two-wheelers and 80 per cent of deaths are caused due to head injuries. Last year 14,482 motor accidents were reported from the state resulting in the death of 1330 persons.

In the country, over 1.46 lakh persons killed road accidents in 2015. Union surface transport minister Nitin Gadkari had said recently that more than 50 per cent of the driving licences in the country were fake.