The central government is going to implement a new law for two-wheeler riders wearing only branded helmets, ensuring production and sale. On wearing a local helmet, a fine of one thousand rupees will be imposed. Along with this, a fine of two lakh rupees and provision of jail will be made on local helmet production. Everyday 28 bike riders die due to local helmets or without helmets in road accidents.
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has included it in the list of Bureau of Indian Standards (BSI) for the first time to provide safe helmets to bike riders. The ministry has sought objections and suggestions from stakeholders in the notification issued on 30 July. The new rule will be implemented after 30 days. Under this, it will be mandatory for the manufacturing companies to get the helmet certified from BSI (Quality Control) before selling it in the market. In this, the enforcement departments of the state governments will have the authority to periodically investigate the sale and production of local helmets.
In the new standard, the weight of the helmet is reduced.
Experts say that without helmet or poor quality of the helmet (local helmet), there will be an invoice of Rs 1,000. In the new standard, the weight of the helmet has been reduced from one and a half kg to one kg 200 grams. Rajeev Kapoor, President of Two Wheeler Helmet Manufacturers Association, told ‘Hindustan’ that the inclusion of the helmet in the BIS list would save two-wheeler drivers in a road accident. According to a 2016 study, 28 bike riders are killed in road accidents every day in the country due to local helmets or without helmets.
Non-BIS helmet production fine of two lakhs
Non-BIS helmet production, stock and sale will now be considered as offense. On doing so, the company will be fined and punished for two lakhs. Local helmets will also no longer be exported. Transport expert Anil Chhikara says people do not know the difference between helmets (engineer-staff) and industrial helmets worn on construction sites. The basket helmet does not save the life of a bike rider in road accidents. With the introduction of BSI, the consumer will know the batch, brand, date of manufacture, etc. of the helmet.
