Get your helmet mojo on

Whether it is Kamal Haasan’s stern yet earnest request asking his fans to adhere to the new mandatory helmet rule and not be seduced by the daredevilry seen in films or a number of innovative billboards/posters that have been put up promoting the message  one thing is clear, we are taking this very, very seriously. Since the ruling came into effect, safety-conscious youngsters all over Tamil Nadu have taken it upon themselves to not only urge friends, but also inject some fashion into the proceedings albeit, with minimal risk.

Says Shravan Sridharan, a recent college graduate who keeps up with all the latest motorcycle trends, “I understand the need to make a fashion statement on the roads, but none of us compromise on safety  we only customise the outside of the helmet with pop-culture logos and so on. I would not recommend fancy helmets such as those modelled after The Transformers.” From GoT and Harry Potter prints to Latin proverbs and Chinese dragons, there is no dearth of options to make your helmet stand out. But, at no cost should the interiors be tampered with.

Biking enthusiast Aravind Anand, an engineer at Ford, agrees and says it is necessary for all helmets to have an ISI certification. “The funky imported helmets are certified by a US authority called DoT, which will not be accepted by the police. Evaluate the helmet on comfort, weight, aerodynamics and visibility, regardless of the style. Avoid novelty designs and beanies which are at the bottom of the safety list.”

There are also accessories to consider. V. Karthi, who shoots documentaries and short films with a GoPro mounted atop his helmet says, “Nowadays, helmets can be fitted with Bluetooth and GPS so as to receive instructions as well as to communicate with fellow riders, which is pretty cool. We use this to go on long road trips  all alone, but with a voice in your ear keeping an eye out for you!”
Professional racers are thrilled with the rule, and recommend against scrounging on this investment. “See, you get cheap headgear for '300 or 400, but it would crack if you just dropped it! I always import my helmets brands like ARAI and SHOEI. In India, LS2 is good. Another piece of advice  don’t re-use a helmet that has already been in an accident, it may not survive another one,” muses racer Alisha Abdullah, adding that G.P Road and Mount Road in Chennai are the best places to purchase safe headgear.