In a bid to enhance road safety and save lives, a new amendment will prohibit gas station attendants in Greece from selling fuel to motorcyclists not wearing helmets.
The regulation, introduced by the Development Ministry, is set to be tabled in Parliament on Thursday as part of a broader update to the Traffic Code by the Transport Ministry.
The initiative, originally proposed by Health Minister Adonis Georgiadis on December 16, has gained support from Development Minister Takis Theodorikakos and the Federation of Gas Station Owners. Speaking to a parliamentary committee, Theodorikakos emphasized the importance of protecting human life, particularly for young motorcyclists. “We must do everything we can to save lives. That is why we acted immediately,” he said.
The measure was spurred by the tragic death of a young motorcyclist in Crete and the subsequent announcement by a local gas station owner to deny service to helmetless riders. In parallel, the Health Ministry has partnered with the Federation of Gas Station Owners to launch a nationwide awareness campaign under the slogan “No gas, if you don’t wear a helmet.”
Medical experts underscored the urgency of the issue during the parliamentary discussion. KAT accident hospital governor Yiannis Iliopoulos revealed that 3,200 traffic accident victims are treated annually, with 7-10% suffering severe injuries. Many require intensive care and prolonged rehabilitation. Spyros Papanikolaou, an intensive-care physician and EKAV emergency service board member, highlighted that 5% of daily traffic accident cases involve critical injuries, often caused by the lack of helmets. He stressed the dire situation on Greek islands, calling helmetless riding “suicidal.”
The proposed amendment reflects Greece’s renewed commitment to reducing traffic fatalities and fostering a culture of road safety.