Helmet makers welcome mandatory BIS certification

Helmet manufacturers today lauded the government's decision to bring all two-wheeler helmets under mandatory certification of the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS).

"We are in high spirits with the government decision as they have taken the much needed step considering the alarming number of fatalities of two wheeler riders due to road accidents," ISI Helmet Manufactures Association President Rajeev Kapur said in a statement.

The government's decision will encourage the usage of helmet while riding a two-wheeler that too with complete safety, he added.

The government has recommended bringing two wheeler helmets under mandatory certification of BIS, and having 'two-wheeler' marking in word or picture on them, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari announced yesterday.

The new helmets to be designed on the recommendations of a committee will also be India-specific and will weigh at least 300 grams less than the existing ones, he had said.

In order to reduce fatalities in road accidents, the government had formed a committee headed by Joint Secretary, Transport, Abhay Damle which after studying various aspects came out with a set of recommendations for helmets that include a reduction in weight by at least 300 grams.

Kapur said around 80 per cent of helmets used by two-wheeler riders across India currently do not meet ISI standards and the market is flooded with such sub-standard products which compromise on safety despite a fourth of all road deaths involve two-wheeler occupants.

"Also the committee's point on up gradation of visor standard to provide scratch resistance performance and improved optical quality was much needed and is highly appreciated," he added.

As per the findings of a study, a number of accidents also happen due to the presence of scratches on the visor, Kapur said.

Around 1.5 lakh people lose their lives in India in road accidents every year.