About 38 per cent of accident victims in the country are two-wheeler and pillion riders not wearing or wearing non-standard helmets

International Road Federation (IRF) a Geneva-based global road safety body working for better and safer roads worldwide has welcomed the Road Transport Ministry move bringing helmets for two-wheeler riders under the mandatory BIS regime from June 1, 2020.

“This much-awaited move means the sale of non-BIS certified helmets will be an offence once the notification comes to effect. Wearing a non-standard helmet is as risky as not wearing a helmet for two-wheeler rider. Nearly 60-70% of helmets sold in India don’t conform to the BIS norms,” said Mr. K. K. Kapila, President, Emeritus, International Road Federation.

“Nearly 60-70% of helmets sold in India don’t conform to the BIS norms. According to the Transport Ministry data, 43,600 two-wheeler riders without helmets had in road crashes in 2018 and this included 15,364 pillion riders. Ban on non-standard helmets has become all the more important considering that post-Covid more people are expected have shifted to two-wheelers from using public transport, said Mr. Kapila. 

“Enforcing helmet rule and bringing helmets under quality control is the most effective approach to reducing two-wheeler accidents in the country which account for about 38 per cent of the victims of the road accidents”, added Mr. Kapila.