The recent death of a Delhi Police sub-inspector in Ghaziabad has raised concerns about the quality of helmets being sold on the roadside. While some vendors claim their helmets meet safety standards, roadside sellers admit to selling low-cost hel...
By ET Online |
TNN
However, despite the lack of police intervention, nearly half of the helmets sold in Noida are estimated to be unsafe. Stricter enforcement and awareness are needed to ensure the purchase of branded, high-quality helmets.
The police investigating the recent death of a 57-year-old Delhi Police sub-inspector in Ghaziabad found a broken helmet at the accident scene, raising questions about its quality and adherence to safety standards. The incident has brought to light the prevalence of cheap and substandard helmets being sold on the roadside, primarily to bypass the Supreme Court order on mandatory helmet use, a TOI report stated.
Helmet vendors in Gautam Budh Nagar claim that the helmets they sell meet the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) norms while being affordable. However, a roadside seller named Pappu in Noida has a different perspective. Pappu, who started selling helmets to supplement his income, admits to sourcing low-cost helmets without proper certification from Delhi. He argues that these helmets offer some level of safety, although no headgear can guarantee complete protection in accidents.
Experts, however, warn against using uncertified helmets, as they pose a significant risk to riders' lives. Balraj Bhanot, a road safety expert, emphasizes that the original equipment makers must ensure that the helmets supplied with two-wheelers conform to BIS standards and bear the ISI mark. Anil Kumar Yadav, DCP (Traffic) of Gautam Budh Nagar, acknowledges the high number of helmetless riders but admits that action against sellers without the ISI mark is yet to be taken. He urges riders to prioritize their safety by purchasing only hallmarked helmets.
Despite the lack of police intervention, nearly half of the helmets sold daily in Noida are estimated to be unsafe. Puran Lal, a roadside seller, concedes that only about 20 out of his stock of 55 helmets are hallmarked. Similarly, Pushpendra Kumar sells substandard headgear near TGIP Mall in Noida, attracting customers with their lower prices compared to branded helmets. Delivery persons and daily commuters are the primary buyers of these uncertified helmets, mainly to avoid fines.
Traffic officials have also raised concerns about bikers wearing helmets loosely, particularly with improperly fastened straps, which is a dangerous practice. They stress the importance of securely fastening the helmet to the head to avoid it falling off during an accident, as it can lead to severe head injuries.
While there are shops selling hallmarked helmets in Noida, the issue lies in the lack of enforcement and the availability of cheaper alternatives. Yogendra Kumar, the owner of Tauji Helmets, highlights the benefits of branded helmets, which are made from high-quality materials and designed to effectively dissipate impact energy, thus reducing the risk of head injuries.
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S Velmurugan, a chief scientist at the Central Road Research Institute, also advocated for stricter enforcement to ensure that people only purchase branded helmets.
