Ban on Gasoline Sales to Motorcyclists Without Helmets: Greece’s New Initiative Following Tragic Accident

The Greek government has announced a new measure aimed at reducing motorcycle-related accidents following the tragic death of 17-year-old Yiannis Christoulakis in a road incident in Kastelli Kissamos, Crete.

The government has introduced a regulation in collaboration with the Union of Gas Stations in Greece that will prohibit gas stations across the country from selling gasoline to motorcyclists who are not wearing helmets.

Maria Zaga, President of the Attica Gas Station Union, confirmed the new rule in an interview with a major online news outlet. The initiative comes after Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis made a public appeal, stressing the urgent need to end fatal motorcycle accidents involving young people who neglect to wear helmets.

Mitsotakis stated, “For God’s sake, there must be an end to these deadly motorcycle accidents that kill young people who don’t wear helmets,” emphasizing the severe consequences of such negligence. He pointed out that Greece has one of the highest rates of traumatic brain injuries caused by motorcycle accidents in Europe, largely due to the lack of helmet enforcement.

In response to the tragic death of Yiannis Christoulakis, the Rodoussaki family gas station in Greece made a public statement, declaring, “Due to the tragedy in which young Yiannis Christoulakis lost his life, we will no longer sell gasoline to motorcyclists who do not wear helmets.”

Following this announcement, representatives from the Union of Gas Stations met with Greece’s Ministers of Health, Adonis Georgiadis, and Minister of Development, Takis Theodorikakos. During the meeting, the ministers decided that all gas stations in Greece should be instructed to refuse fuel sales to motorcyclists not wearing helmets.

This new initiative reflects the government’s increased commitment to improving road safety and reducing preventable accidents on Greek roads.

Source: pagenews.gr