Balod District Introduces ‘No Helmet, No Fuel’ Policy to Enhance Road Safety

The Balod district administration has implemented a new policy: two-wheeler riders without helmets will be denied fuel at petrol pumps. The decision stems from a joint initiative by the district authorities and police to mitigate the rising road accident rates. Collector Divya Umesh Mishra and Superintendent of Police Yogesh Patel held a meeting with petrol pump operators and two-wheeler dealers to communicate the new guidelines. The primary objective is to improve road safety and reduce fatalities, recognizing that head injuries are a major contributor to deaths in accidents. The administration is enlisting support from all sectors of society, including petrol pump operators and vehicle vendors, to ensure the policy’s success. In addition to the fuel restriction, the administration has mandated that two-wheeler vendors provide helmets with every new vehicle sale. Public awareness campaigns are planned to educate citizens about the importance of wearing helmets.