NEW DELHI: Launching a crackdown on manufacturing and sale of unsafe and substandard helmets , the Centre has asked all district collectors to carry out an intensive drive against such illegal activity. This comes amid reports of an increase in the number of two-wheeler occupants killed in road crashes, with nearly 70% of them found not wearing helmets.
Currently, police do not record whether the two occupants killed or injured in crashes were wearing BIS-certified or non-standard helmets. For this category of road users, a quality helmet is the only saviour in the event of a crash.
According to the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), licenses for 162 helmet manufacturers have either been cancelled or expired, with 96 of these in Delhi and another 44 in Uttar Pradesh, indicating that these two states are hubs for making unsafe helmets .
While the Motor Vehicle Act makes the proper wearing of a standard helmet compulsory for all two-wheeler occupants, the Quality Control Order (QCO) prohibits the manufacturing, storage, and sale of non-BIS-certified helmets. Over 75,000 two-wheeler occupants were killed in 2023, and nearly 53,000 of them were not wearing helmets, according to data shared by the states with the Centre.
In an official statement, the consumer affairs department said, “To date, 162 licenses for helmet manufacturers have been cancelled or expired. Additionally, 27 searches and seizures have been conducted for misuse of the BIS mark and violations of QCOs, with cases filed in various courts.”
Highlighting the need to ensure that only BIS-certified helmets are sold in the market, Union Consumer Affairs Secretary Nidhi Khare stated, “Helmets save lives, but only if they are of good quality. This initiative is crucial for removing unsafe helmets from the market and educating consumers about the importance of BIS-certified products. We urge all stakeholders to actively participate in this campaign for the safety of our citizens.”
The government has called for strict enforcement against manufacturers operating without BIS licenses or using counterfeit ISI marks, as well as against retailers selling these non-compliant products to unsuspecting consumers. “Consumers can verify whether a helmet manufacturer is licensed by BIS through the BIS Care App or by visiting the BIS website,” the department stated.
Currently, police do not record whether the two occupants killed or injured in crashes were wearing BIS-certified or non-standard helmets. For this category of road users, a quality helmet is the only saviour in the event of a crash.
According to the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), licenses for 162 helmet manufacturers have either been cancelled or expired, with 96 of these in Delhi and another 44 in Uttar Pradesh, indicating that these two states are hubs for making unsafe helmets .
While the Motor Vehicle Act makes the proper wearing of a standard helmet compulsory for all two-wheeler occupants, the Quality Control Order (QCO) prohibits the manufacturing, storage, and sale of non-BIS-certified helmets. Over 75,000 two-wheeler occupants were killed in 2023, and nearly 53,000 of them were not wearing helmets, according to data shared by the states with the Centre.
In an official statement, the consumer affairs department said, “To date, 162 licenses for helmet manufacturers have been cancelled or expired. Additionally, 27 searches and seizures have been conducted for misuse of the BIS mark and violations of QCOs, with cases filed in various courts.”
Highlighting the need to ensure that only BIS-certified helmets are sold in the market, Union Consumer Affairs Secretary Nidhi Khare stated, “Helmets save lives, but only if they are of good quality. This initiative is crucial for removing unsafe helmets from the market and educating consumers about the importance of BIS-certified products. We urge all stakeholders to actively participate in this campaign for the safety of our citizens.”
The government has called for strict enforcement against manufacturers operating without BIS licenses or using counterfeit ISI marks, as well as against retailers selling these non-compliant products to unsuspecting consumers. “Consumers can verify whether a helmet manufacturer is licensed by BIS through the BIS Care App or by visiting the BIS website,” the department stated.
