How reliable are these sub-standard roadside sold helmets?
1/6
Anything which is light on pocket
For millions of Indians who rides on two-wheeler vehicle, the choice of helmet is always dictated by its price.
It doesn’t matter whether the last helmet, also a cheap one, broke into many pieces when met with an accident.
"The helmet has to be cheap. In fact, cheaper than traffic challans," claims a passer by.
It doesn’t matter whether the last helmet, also a cheap one, broke into many pieces when met with an accident.
"The helmet has to be cheap. In fact, cheaper than traffic challans," claims a passer by.
2/6
Are expensive things always better
"What’s the guarantee that a costlier one will save your life?" asks Ahlawat, a medical representative, working in Delhi.
Ahlawat recently bought his second helmet for a paltry Rs 250 from a vendor on Delhi-Meerut highway. There is a high chance that it is fake, with a fake ISI mark.
Top helmet manufacturers reckon that 75-80% Indians end up buying fake helmets as they go for lighter, cheaper ones.
Ahlawat recently bought his second helmet for a paltry Rs 250 from a vendor on Delhi-Meerut highway. There is a high chance that it is fake, with a fake ISI mark.
Top helmet manufacturers reckon that 75-80% Indians end up buying fake helmets as they go for lighter, cheaper ones.
3/6
Battle against the fake ones
The price difference between a good branded helmet and a cheap one with a fake ISI mark is huge.
Low quality counterfeit helmets in India can be purchased for Rs 150 onwards, while the branded originals cost Rs 1,000 upwards.
Low quality counterfeit helmets in India can be purchased for Rs 150 onwards, while the branded originals cost Rs 1,000 upwards.
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4/6
Support from the Centre
The Centre has also woken up to the problem and is likely to promote redesigned helmets that are lighter.
"We will launch light helmets to combat fakes," Road Transport and Highways minister Nitin Gadkari told ET Magazine in an exclusive interview.
Expressing concern over the staggering number of Indians getting killed and injured in road accidents, Gadkari hoped that these helmets would make people ditch the fakes.
"We will launch light helmets to combat fakes," Road Transport and Highways minister Nitin Gadkari told ET Magazine in an exclusive interview.
Expressing concern over the staggering number of Indians getting killed and injured in road accidents, Gadkari hoped that these helmets would make people ditch the fakes.
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Road fatalities
In 2016, two-wheelers accounted for 33.8% of road accidents, the highest among all kinds of accidents.
Out of 52,500 two-wheeler riders involved in road accidents in 2016, 10,135 (19.3%) were not wearing helmets.
Out of 52,500 two-wheeler riders involved in road accidents in 2016, 10,135 (19.3%) were not wearing helmets.
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Sub-standard menace world over
The menace of using these substandard helmets is not confined to India only.
According to the United Nations Motorcycle Helmet Study from 2016, globally, two-wheeler riders are the most vulnerable to accidents.
Motorcyclists are 26 times more likely to die in a traffic crash than are car drivers.
Wearing an appropriate helmet, the report adds, improves their chances of survival by 42% and helps avoid 69% of injuries.
One of the most common myths is the one one Ahlawat lives by: any helmet is better than no helmet.
In the case of a crash, notes the UN report, a rider using a low- quality helmet could get more severely injured or even killed.
According to the United Nations Motorcycle Helmet Study from 2016, globally, two-wheeler riders are the most vulnerable to accidents.
Motorcyclists are 26 times more likely to die in a traffic crash than are car drivers.
Wearing an appropriate helmet, the report adds, improves their chances of survival by 42% and helps avoid 69% of injuries.
One of the most common myths is the one one Ahlawat lives by: any helmet is better than no helmet.
In the case of a crash, notes the UN report, a rider using a low- quality helmet could get more severely injured or even killed.