Helmet or no petrol for Greek bikers under proposal

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January 28, 2025
2 min read

Helmet or no petrol for Greek bikers under proposal

A Greek minister has suggested an unusual solution to motorbike riders who flout the mandatory helmet requirement. While the country, like many others requires all bikers to wear one, many are contravening the law, risking not only a fine but their own safety as well. The country’s Minister of Health, Adonis Georgiadis, who is himself a biker, has suggested banning petrol stations from selling fuel to riders who don’t wear a helmet.

Georgiadis took centre stage in a TV campaign to promote helmet uptake among bikers. But he has proposed the unorthodox solution to the nation’s petrol station owners, refuse service to riders without a helmet. According to CarScoops, they are the majority of riders in Greece.

But not everyone is with him on the proposed measure. Some petrol station owners have said that it would place an unfair burden of enforcement on businesses instead of authorities. They also object to the suggestion that petrol stations could be fined if they are caught serving non-compliant riders. Despite this, Minister of Development Takis Theodorikakos has drafted a special amendment to parliament.

If approved, it would mean bikers without helmets are unable to legally buy petrol at the pumps, either forcing them to comply with the law, unless they switch to an electric bike.

“Motorcycle drivers are usually young people, in an age where they feel invulnerable,” Theodorikakos said. He called on lawmakers to support the proposal and emphasised the government commitment to reducing preventable injuries and deaths.

Most countries, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), enforce laws which require anyone on a motorcycle to wear helmets and Greece, at least on paper, is no exception. But many have said that enforcement has been limited. Head injuries are sadly a common occurrence after a traffic accident. These can cause severe trauma, permanent disabilities, and even death for the rider.

In the US, it is a requirement in around half of states. Many others only require younger riders to wear helmets while three, Illinois, Iowa, and New Hampshire have no such requirement at all.

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