No helmet, no fuel in Orissa

After exhausting quite a few options, including collection of a hefty Rs 500 penalty from non-helmet users and temporary suspension of their driving licences (DLs), the Orissa government has decided to adopt a novel method to ensure that all the two-wheeler riders in the state use helmets to save themselves from head injuries.

According to sources, the state government has planned to launch a statewide “no helmet-no fuel” campaign as a public movement and ensure its implementation in petrol outlets across the state as a road safety measure.

In the first phase, the campaign will be started at state capital Bhubaneswar and adjoining city Cuttack. Later, it will be launched in other parts of the state.

In fact, chief secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi has instructed the transport and commerce ministry officials to coordinate with the state police to vigorously take up the campaign to minimize the quantum of casualty due to head injuries.

Besides collecting Rs 500 penalty from non-helmet using bikers who are caught during regular checking at traffic squares for not using helmets, the government is also suspending driving licenses (DLs) of those committing more than five such offences.

A total of 18,000 DLs have been suspended so far, state transport commissioner Chandra Shekhar Kumar informed on Saturday.

“Driving offences as well as non-use of helmets are committed by the drivers are being entered to their DL data base which is being updated regularly. A biker committing five such offences would face suspension of his or her DL for a certain period,” he added.

The chief secretary Mr Padhi has also directed to set up a trauma care center in Capital Hospital and assured that necessary fund support would be provided by the state government for the purpose.

At least eight trauma care centres have been set up in various places for taking care of the accident victims while proposal has been prepared for setting up another eight.