A day after the Guntur Urban Police ordered fuel stations not to provide fuel for those not wearing helmets, it seemed that the order is yet to sink in as men and women still moved about on the roads without helmets, while fuel stations seemed oblivious to the orders.
Superintendent of Police, Guntur Urban, Ch. Vijaya Rao said that the police would give breathing time for fuel stations to implement the orders and also sensitise people on the safety driving. “We will give some more time for the fuel stations and meetings are being organised at the level of Sub Divisional Police Officers. At the same time, we will also counsel students in colleges about the importance of safety,” said Mr. Vijaya Rao. The police are planning to send notices to petrol stations citing social responsibility and persuade them to fall in line.
But the fuel stations are not pleased either. ``It is going to cause trouble at the fuel stations and it will lead to arguments with our customers. The traffic police have been doing inspections at various check points and it is not fair to impose this rule on us,’’ said Raavi Gopalakrishna, president of AP Federation of Petroleum Traders.
The police have been attempting to implement the helmet rule within the city over the last 10 years, but have met with little success. The decision had also not gone well with women who felt that wearing helmet for a prolonged time might damage their hair. Police records have shown that people prefer to shell out fines rather than comply with the orders.
This time, the decision has evoked mixed reactions from people in the city. Rana Jagadish, a freelance photographer and an enthusiastic biker welcomed the decision. “One can never take safety for granted. I always wear a helmet and support the decision of the police,” said Mr. Jagadish.
Some like, Bantu Salwant, said that civic authorities should repair roads to ensure safety and then think about implementing the helmet rule.
“If you are really bothered about people’s safety, then please repair roads time in time, provide proper street lights, and then send your officers to penalise traffic violators. If I am liable for penalty, you are liable to pay me a compensation,” he said.
