Some people are making a mockery of the "No Helmet, No Fuel" policy, which was implemented to reduce deaths in road accidents. Without any concern for their own safety, two-wheeler riders are borrowing helmets from others at the petrol pump to get fuel, and then riding off without a helmet, putting their lives at risk.
The Game Of Borrowed Helmets
This has become a common sight at many petrol pumps in the city. On Friday, at a pump on Hapur Road, an employee refused to give petrol to a scooter rider without a helmet. The rider immediately borrowed a helmet from another customer, got a full tank, returned the helmet, and left.
Pump employees say this is a daily story. They helplessly add, "People can borrow a helmet, but if an accident happens, you can't borrow a life."
Difficulties For Pump Staff
Pump operators and employees are facing significant difficulties in enforcing this rule. Kaustubh Bhardwaj, an operator at Bharat Petrol Pump, said that during the day, people either argue or promise to wear a helmet next time while insisting on getting fuel. The situation worsens at night when some people, often drunk, arrive and become abusive or start fights when refused petrol.
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Campaign's Impact And Administration's Directives
However, despite these challenges, the campaign is also showing a positive effect. Kaustubh Bhardwaj admits that the number of people arriving with helmets has increased compared to before. Meanwhile, District Supply Officer Amit Tiwari has made it clear that all pump operators have been given strict instructions to follow the policy and to keep their CCTV cameras operational.
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