Kochi: The Motor Vehicle Department (MVD) would launch a new campaign “Wear helmet and ask for fuel” from Monday after it was forced to step back from its proposal to make wearing of helmets mandatory to avail petrol from fuel stations. “Transport minister A. K. Saseendran will launch the campaign at a function to be held at the BPCL petrol pump at Irumbanam. The initiative jointly implemented by the MVD and the Kerala Road Safety Authority aims to make riders take precautionary measures all by themselves rather than forcefully implementing measures,” said transport commissioner Tomin J. Thachankary.
The department would distribute pamphlets and carry out other road safety awareness activities based around petrol pumps. Initially the MVD was set to strictly prevent sale of fuel from petrol bunks to two-wheel riders without helmets from Monday. However, the enforcement was delayed by two more weeks and till then the awareness campaign will be held. “We’ll start taking penal action like levying against helmet less riders after that,” the official said.
