Cheap helmet can kill you

Hyderabad: Will your helmet save you in case of an accident? Do you know that wearing a helmet that is not as per standards is like not wearing one at all? With the Hyderabad city police launching special drives to implement the helmet rule since March 1, many roadside vendors have started selling inferior quality helmets.

The Central government has made it mandatory for all helmets to bear the ISI mark provided by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). But most motorists are not aware of the rule and buy cheap helmets from the roadside.

There were originally around 250 shops in the GHMC limits selling branded helmets. But when the police started enforcing the helmet rule, about 1,000 roadside vendors cropped up.

On Tank Bund alone, there are 10 roadside helmet-selling points. Most roadside vendors have put up stalls on main corridors like Dilsukhnagar-Mehdipatnam-Patancheru, Dilsukhnagar-Panjagutta-Patancheru, Secunderabad-Kukatpally-Patancheru, Secunderabad-Panjagutta-Kondapur and Secunderabad-Mehdipatnam-Patancheru. These helmets are being sold for Rs 250 to Rs 1,100 while ISI-marked helmets are from Rs 500 to Rs 3,000.

The BIS Act, in its third revision in 2006, had included helmets in the mandatory list of goods that needed to have ISI standards. BIS director M.V.S.D. Prasada Rao said that there were more chances of one’s life being saved by  wearing a helmet with an ISI mark.

“We approve ISI standards for helmets after certain tests like impact absorption, resistance to penetration, rigidity and dynamic test of retention system apart from audibility and visibility. As per IS-9973, the visors used in the helmets also need ISI standards,” he said.

Mr Rao said that non-ISI helmets might not meet the life-saving requirements. “An ISI standard helmet has a strong shell, protective and comfortable padding, retention system with chain strap and standard visor. Non-ISI helmets have only low-quality shells and simple padding with a layer,” he said.

He added that roadside vendors were convincing customers that they were selling ISI standard helmets. “But a branded helmet manufacturer with ISI standard doesn’t use stickers or labels. Roadside vendors are simply sticking an ISI label on the helmets. Motorists can claim compensation at consumer forums if they are injured while wearing ISI branded helmets during accidents,” he said.

Traffic DCP A.V. Ranganath said that as per Section 129 of the Motor Vehicles Act (1988), motorists must procure helmets with ISI standards. “We are advising two-wheeler riders during counseling sessions to purchase helmets with ISI standards,” he said. Task Force DCP B. Limba Reddy said that selling non-ISI helmets was against the rules. “We are planning to conduct raids on such vendors and wholesalers at Begumbazar,” he said.

B. Deveneder, a roadside helmet vendor near St. Ann’s School, Secunderabad said that they were procuring helmets from Pune and Delhi. “Since implementation of the helmet rule, roughly 40-50 helmets are being sold daily,” he said.

Mohammad Haneef, proprietor of the “World of Helmets” showroom near the police task force office in Secunderabad, meanwhile, said that most customers were asking for cheap helmets.

“We sell only branded and ISI marked helmets which cost from Rs 500 to Rs 3,000. After implementing the helmet rule, around 25 helmets are being sold per day,” he said.

A. Manikanta, a motorist who purchased a roadside helmet at Tank Bund on Tuesday, said that he just wanted a helmet to avoid being booked by the cops.

190 companies have right to make helmets

Only 190 companies in India have BIS licences for manufacturing helmets while a Chinese firm, Yueqing Kylin Motorcycle Fittings Co. Ltd, also has the license. Except for eight companies in Karnataka, there are no manufacturers in South India.

Proprietor of the “World of Helmets” showroom, Mohammad Haneef, said that most showrooms in the city get helmets from Delhi. “Only Globe brand helmets are imported from Bengaluru. But there isn’t sufficient supply from there and we are depending on Delhi and UP,” he said.