The thrill of motorcycle riding is fascinating, but the risks are much higher than driving a car, which makes helmet laws a standard in many countries to ensure safety. However, some riders still choose to ignore these rules, not only facing fines, but also risking their own safety. In response to this problem, Greek Health Minister Adonis Georgiadis proposed an unusual solution: prohibit gas stations from selling fuel to motorcyclists who are not wearing helmets.
Georgiadis, a motorcyclist himself, not only advocated for the wearing of helmets in Greek television campaigns, he also made this unique suggestion to the local gas station owners’ association, hoping to use the power of gas stations to make those motorcyclists who do not wear helmets, who make up the majority in Greece, comply with the rules.However, the proposal has been opposed by some gas station owners. They believe that this unfairly shifts the responsibility of enforcement to the business, rather than to the relevant law enforcement agencies . In addition, they are also opposed to fines for gas stations that violate the rules and serve riders who are not wearing helmets. Despite the controversy, Greek Development Minister Takis Theodorikakos has drafted a special amendment for the Greek Parliament.If approved by parliament, the amendment will become part of Greece’s updated traffic code and would mean motorcyclists who are not wearing helmets would not be able to legally buy gas at gas stations, forcing them to either comply with the law or give up riding altogether.At a parliamentary committee meeting, Theodorikakos spoke about the cultural and psychological barriers to helmet use among motorcyclists. “Motorcyclists are often young people, at an age when they feel they can do anything,” he said. He called on lawmakers to support the initiative, stressing the government’s commitment to reducing preventable injuries and deaths.IT Home noted that data from the World Health Organization (WHO) showed that most countries require motorcycle drivers and passengers to wear helmets. Greece is no exception in terms of legal provisions, but in actual implementation, especially in urban areas, law enforcement is extremely weak. As a result, head injuries have become a common consequence of traffic accidents, often leading to severe trauma, permanent disability or even death.Meanwhile, in about half of U.S. states, all motorcyclists are required to wear helmets, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). In most other states, only young riders are required to wear helmets. Illinois, Iowa and New Hampshire do not have any helmet laws at all.
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