Petrol pump owners and citizens of Dehradun are not happy with the decision of police to enforce ‘no helmet-no petrol’ system.
The Uttarakhand Director General of Police BS Sidhu recently said that petrol pump owners will be ordered to refuse fuel to two-wheeler users without helmet and four-wheeler users who are drunk. It is the work of police to ensure that traffic rules are being followed. The petrol pump staff cannot enforce traffic rules, said general secretary of Dehradun Petrol Pump Association, Amarjeet Singh.
Singh said that if such rules are enforced it will be difficult to ensure its observance. “As businessmen, we do have the right to say no to our customers and if refused the customer has the right to file a complaint against us. We haven't received any official circular regarding this order yet. Further action will be taken only after knowing the exact guidelines mentioned in the circular,” Singh added.
Manager of Universal Petrol Pump Balesh Vedwal said that the decision of police is not bad for ensuring road safety but at the same time it is not good for the petrol pump owners as this decision will affect the sales.
Vedwal said that it is the duty of police to check people without helmets and drunk drivers. “We are businessmen doing our business and if such rule is implemented it will affect our business. It is very difficult to follow such rules as some people are not cooperative so it can also create disturbance at in the petrol pump,” he said. He added that people will only follow this rule if two policeman are assigned at each petrol pump otherwise very few people will follow the rule.
Owner of Agarwal Filling Station Shivam Agarwal said that the decision is partly good for the public but problematic for petrol pump operators. "This decision will affect our sales and very few people will follow this rule. We haven't received any official notice regarding this rule and we will follow the decision taken by our association," he said.
A student Neeraj Gusain said that policemen themselves are not following traffic rules properly so they don't have the right to enforce the regulations they themselves violate. He also said that it is the duty of police to check traffic rules violators but they have failed in their job so they are trying to get businessmen to enforce rules. A local resident Payal Gupta said that if this rule is implemented, it will definitely decrease the number of accidents but at same time some people will face problem if during emergencies they forget to wear their helmet to the petrol pump.