Lahore brings back “No Helmet, No Petrol” policy

The city of Lahore has reintroduced the “No Helmet, No Petrol” policy. A notification from the Office of the Deputy Commission states that bike riders who do not wear helmets will be denied access to petrol within the city. The notification emphasizes that the use of a helmet is mandated by law to ensure the safety of bikers and motorcyclists. Violating this requirement is considered an offense under the Motor Vehicle Ordinance of 1965.

Implementation and Rationale of the Policy

The DC office highlights the importance of this policy due to the observed increase in the number of deaths and severe head injuries among bikers involved in road accidents. To combat this issue, the following measures are being taken:

1. Complete prohibition on fuel sales to bikers who do not wear safety helmets in Lahore.
2. Advisory to all petrol pumps and filling stations, urging them to refuse fuel to bikers without helmets in the interest of public safety.

Suspension of the Previous Policy

This is not the first time the government has implemented the ban on “No Helmet, No Petrol.” In 2018, similar measures were put in place, but numerous violations were reported as some petrol pumps continued to supply fuel to non-helmeted bikers. Certain stations even adopted a temporary “rent a helmet” policy to provide safety gear to riders for a limited period. However, the ban was eventually lifted following an order from the Supreme Court of Pakistan. The court deemed the ban an infringement on the basic rights of ordinary citizens.

The Supreme Court, through a three-member bench, suspended the “no helmet, no petrol” ban, reasoning that no law should deny a biker’s fundamental right to purchase fuel for their ride. Furthermore, the court directed the Chief Traffic Officer (CTO) to ensure compliance with road safety regulations, particularly the mandatory use of helmets in Lahore. The CTO was instructed to take strict action against those who fail to adhere to these rules. By assigning responsibility to the CTO, the Supreme Court aims to avoid directly enforcing such laws.