Vizag police to roll out ‘No Helmet, No Petrol’ rule from New Year

To curb rising road fatalities and improve helmet use among two-wheeler riders, Vizag City police will implement a “no helmet, no petrol” policy citywide from the New Year 2026. The move seeks to deter violations and follows a model used in parts of Uttar Pradesh, where riders without protective headgear are denied fuel.

Police officials said many motorcyclists killed or injured in crashes were not wearing helmets. Riding without a helmet currently carries a Rs 1,000 fine, but compliance remains low. Two-wheeler users continue to account for the highest number of road-accident deaths in Andhra Pradesh. Of the 8,137 fatalities reported in 2023, 4,139 involved two-wheelers, nearly half the total.

National Crime Records Bureau data underline the trend. Two-wheelers led transport-wise accident deaths with 4,139 fatalities, followed by cars and SUVs at 715, trucks at 669, autorickshaws at 646, other motor vehicles at 216, and bicycles at 129.

Helmet compliance in the State is alarmingly low, according to a study by the Transportation Research and Injury Prevention Centre at IIT Delhi. The report found that 74% of urban riders and 78% of rural riders in Andhra Pradesh violated helmet norms. Non-compliance is worst among pillion riders, with over 98% failing to wear helmets in 2024.

A senior traffic officer said Vizag roads claim 300 lives every year, mostly two-wheeler riders. Petrol bunks have been instructed not to supply fuel to riders without helmets, with banners displayed. Some fuel station staff cautioned that enforcement could trigger disputes with riders ignoring helmet rules.