NEW DELHI: If you think no one is watching your helmet then it is the high time to recheck the Helmet you are buying as w.e.f 1st June 2021 there is a blanket ban on non ISI helmets.
The notification “Helmet for riders of Two Wheeler Motor Vehicles (Quality Control) Order, 2020” issued by Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) dated 26th November, 2020 has stated that all two-wheeler helmets must be Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) certified and should bear the Indian standard (ISI) mark from June 1.
Non obeyance will call for strict measures and penalising the violators. Any person who manufacture, stores, sells or import a non ISI helmet will be punished with imprisonment of term that can extend to 1 years or a minimum fine of Rs. 1 lakh which can also extent to Rs. 5 lakhs.
Additionally, only the two-wheelers helmets bearing the BIS/ISI certification will be allowed to be sold in the country that means manufacturing or selling non ISI helmet is an offence and the violation can land behind the bars. The reason for this much awaited step is to eliminate the sale of spurious and fake two-wheeler helmets and minimise the fatal road injuries caused due to low quality helmets.
As per WHO report 300 thousand people are dying in road accidents in India but this number only includes what is reported and recorded by the Indian Government. On the contrary as per general view more than one million people are dying in India in road accidents because many of the accidents never get reported and recorded. Such corrective measures are need of the hour to save human lives. As per the rule now there will be strict enforcement for adherence of this order.
Mr. Sandeep Sood, Chief Trustee, Utprarit Consumer Forum - a non-government organisation working in the field of Road Safety said” While the future looks at better infrastructure and better vehicles but on another hand in every one hour, 423 road crash deaths are also a reality. In 2019, 4, 37, 396 Road Crashes 1, 54, 732 fatalities and 4, 39, 262 people got injured. As road accidents have become a major concern to one and all this is a very crucial step by the government to curb mishaps on roads and to save precious lives.”
Also speaking on the new rule, Ms. Rajni Gandhi, Founder General Secretary, TRAX (Traffic Reforms and Advocacy Experts), - a non-government organisation said “Helmets are life saving device just like medicines. Therefore, this is a big, much-needed and awaited rule. The ban on non ISI helmets has finally come into effect from 1st June 2021. This means that cheap and non-standardised helmets sold on the roadsides will no longer be available and now the sale and stocking of these non-ISI helmets is a criminal offence.
"This takes us one step closer to our milestone and in making two-wheeler usage safer in India as the cheap roadside helmets that offer little or no protection in case of a crash will no longer be available. Such corrective measures are need of the hour to save human lives. Approximately 3% of GDP is lost due to road accident and this step will certainly help reducing these losses. There already is strict enforcement for adherence to the rule and strict punishment for the violators. Also, ISI certified helmet manufacturers and big organisation should be encouraged to come forward and invest in this field as the demand for helmets will certainly grow. All the existing ISI certified manufacturers will certainly have an advantage and even the government will benefit out of it. This implementation will generate more revenue in terms of taxes and duty which was earlier hogged up by unorganised players commented Mr. Rajeev Kapur, President, Two wheeler helmet manufacturer association
So next time going to buy a new helmet make sure it is BSI certified only.