Uttar Pradesh will enforce a strict road safety measure from September, denying fuel to two-wheeler riders who fail to wear helmets. The state-wide campaign, titled ‘No Helmet, No Fuel’, will run for a month, from 1 to 30 September.
The initiative, which seeks to save lives rather than punish motorists, is anchored in Section 129 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, making helmets compulsory for both rider and pillion. Violations invite penalties under Section 194D of the Act.
A directive was issued earlier this week mandating all departments concerned to work in close coordination under the supervision of district magistrates and District Road Safety Committees. Police, revenue officials and the transport department will be the key enforcing agencies.
Transport Commissioner Brijesh Narain Singh underlined that the campaign is “a pledge for safety, not a punishment,” observing that past drives demonstrated how quickly riders embraced helmet use without significantly disrupting fuel sales.
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Oil marketing companies — IOCL, BPCL and HPCL — along with petrol pump operators have been instructed to enforce the rule at retail outlets. Monitoring will be undertaken through the food and civil supplies department to ensure strict compliance.
“This initiative is not about penalties but ensuring safe behaviour. Make ‘helmet first, fuel later’ a rule of life, because wearing a helmet is the simplest insurance for your own safety,” Singh said.
The Supreme Court’s Committee on Road Safety has repeatedly emphasised helmet compliance as a means of reducing fatalities and serious injuries. Uttar Pradesh’s campaign dovetails with these recommendations and is supported by public awareness drives through the information and public relations department.
The state government has appealed for full cooperation from citizens, industry and local agencies to ensure that the campaign translates into measurable safety outcomes on the roads.
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