Bengaluru: No half-helmets, keep your head as one

Bengaluru: In a long overdue move, the city traffic police launched a month long awareness drive against the use of non-ISI (Indian Standard Institute) helmets worn by motorists who are ignorant of the safety risks involved. Come February 1, the City traffic police will begin an enforcement drive, warned R. Hithendra, Additional Commissioner of Police, Traffic. 

“We have decided to  strictly enforce the wearing of  helmets that meet the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) or the ISI standard. The  awareness campaign on the benefits of wearing ISI certified helmets has begun. An enforcement drive will begin from Februrary 1.”

“It is necessary for motorists to know the importance of wearing the right kind of helmet while riding two-wheelers. People should not wear low quality helmets, which do not protect the skull from injury during an accident and may end up with motorists losing their lives,” he added.

Another senior police officer pointed out that time and again, they had noted that in the aftermath of an accident,  the helmet of the rider or the pillion would have broken into pieces.

“These are helmets without ISI certification," he said, adding that often these are the same kind of helmets that are worn by construction workers, and are not strong enough to cushion the motorist from the impact of a traffic collision.

Putting it down to ignorance, police officials said: “Even half face helmets even if they are ISI certified are dangerous and unacceptable. According to safety guidelines, only a full face helmet provides complete safety for the motorist.”

Observers note that the price of a helmet is also a factor, as helmets that are solid and cover the whole head and face cost upwards of Rs 800-Rs 1000, while the so-called ‘half-helmets’ cost half that. The cap helmets cost Rs 200 or less.

Mysuru police had carried out a helmet awareness drive earlier this week and seized thousands of helmets that are not ISI certified.