In a bid to promote road safety and reduce the number of fatalities resulting from head injuries, the government of Punjab has implemented a stringent policy in Lahore. The policy, dubbed ‘No Helmet, No Petrol’, mandates that motorcyclists must wear helmets in order to purchase petrol at any station across the city.
This directive was issued by the Deputy Commissioner of Lahore, following a letter from the DIG Traffic Police Punjab that called for helmets to be made compulsory for all motorcyclists. The order came into effect three days after the issuance of this letter.
The ‘No Helmet, No Petrol’ policy is part of a broader zero-tolerance approach towards road safety violations. All petrol pump owners in Lahore have been instructed not to sell petrol to any motorcyclist who is not wearing a helmet. This mandate is in line with the Motor Vehicle Ordinance, which stipulates that the use of helmets is mandatory for bikers.
Despite the clear directives, there has been an observed increase in the number of bikers ignoring the order. This non-compliance has unfortunately led to a rise in the number of severe head injuries and deaths resulting from road accidents and collisions.
The notification issued by the Office of the Deputy Commissioner Lahore stated, “In order to eradicate this illegal practice and to ensure road safety and prevent loss of precious life, a complete ban is being imposed on the selling of fuel to bikers/motorcyclists without wearing safety helmet within revenue jurisdiction of District Lahore.”
In a similar vein, CTO Rawalpindi, Taimur Khan, has also instructed petrol pump owners in his jurisdiction not to provide petrol to motorcyclists without a helmet. He expressed hope that this initiative would help people realize the importance of wearing helmets while riding motorcycles.
The ‘No Helmet, No Petrol’ policy is a significant step towards ensuring road safety and reducing the number of fatalities due to road accidents. It underscores the government’s commitment to enforcing traffic rules and regulations, and its determination to protect the lives of its citizens.
