No Helmet, No Petrol: Indore’s bold road safety push begins August 1

K K Jha
Indore: Starting August 1, 2025, two-wheeler riders without helmets will be turned away from petrol pumps in Indore district, a decisive measure to enforce traffic safety, officials announced. The order, issued on Wednesday, July 30, 2025, targets the widespread disregard for helmet rules in the city.
The directive follows instructions from Justice Abhay Manohar Sapre, retired Supreme Court judge and chairman of its Road Safety Committee, during a meeting on Tuesday, July 29, 2025. Justice Sapre called for a robust campaign to ensure two-wheeler riders wear helmets and car passengers use seat belts. “Based on these guidelines, we’ve ordered that, from August 1, petrol pumps in the district will not serve fuel to two-wheeler riders without helmets,” said District Magistrate Ashish Singh.
Issued under Section 163 of the Indian Civil Security Code 2023, the order holds petrol pump operators accountable, with violations punishable by up to one year in prison, a Rs 5,000 fine, or both. This move addresses the Madhya Pradesh High Court’s recent concerns over flagrant traffic rule violations in Indore, urging stricter enforcement to enhance road safety.
Indore, with around 21 lakh vehicles, including 16 lakh two-wheelers, faces significant road safety challenges. Currently, only about half of two-wheeler riders use helmets, contributing to the city’s high accident rates. With India reporting over 460,000 road accidents in 2023, this “No Helmet, No Fuel” rule could boost helmet compliance significantly, potentially cutting accident-related injuries and deaths by up to 40%, based on studies highlighting helmet effectiveness. While the rule may face initial pushback from riders and logistical hurdles for petrol pumps, a planned awareness campaign could foster acceptance, paving the way for safer roads in Indore.