In a bid to enhance road safety and protect consumers from substandard helmets, the Department of Consumer Affairs has directed District Collectors (DCs) and District Magistrates (DMs) to launch a nationwide campaign targeting manufacturers and retailers who sell non-compliant helmets for two-wheeler riders. This comes as a response to the growing concerns over the quality of helmets available in the market and their critical role in safeguarding lives on the road. The Department has written to DCs and DMs in this regard.
It is said that more than 85% of helmets used by two-wheeler riders in India do not meet ISI standards.The ministry’ data shows there are 162 licences of manufacturers of helmets that have been cancelled/expired. Besides, till date total 27 search and seizure have been conducted on misuse of BIS Standard Mark/Violation of QCOs in regards to 4151:2015 and cases are filed in various courts. In 2023, road crashes in India claimed nearly 1.73 lakh lives and left 4.63 lakh injured, marking a record high. Two-wheeler riders, particularly those without helmets, accounted for 44 per cent of the fatalities.
According to the department, it has come to light that substandard helmets, which lack the requisite BIS certification, are being sold on the roadside. This poses a severe risk to public safety and has been linked to numerous fatalities in road accidents. Therefore, there is an urgent need to tackle this issue head-on. The Government has called for strict enforcement against manufacturers operating without BIS licences or using counterfeit ISI Mark, as well as retailers peddling 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.
While emphasising the need to spread awareness among citizens on the matter, Nidhi Khare, Secretary, Department of Consumer Affairs said, “Helmets save lives, but only if they are of good quality. This initiative is crucial in 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.”
Notably, the government has already made wearing a helmet mandatory under the Motor Vehicles Act 1988. The helmet is a crucial safety measure for two-wheeler riders to prevent fatalities in road accidents. Helmet is a critical product and manufacturing of substandard/non-lSI helmets adversely impacts the safety of the user.
However, the effectiveness of a helmet is highly dependent on its quality. Sub-standard helmets do not adhere to the prescribed standards and fail to provide the necessary protection, undermining the very purpose of wearing them.
This initiative underscores the government’s commitment to consumer protection and road safety. By removing sub-standard helmets from the market, the Department aims to prevent avoidable road accident fatalities and promote high-quality safety gear. The Department’s branch offices have been instructed to engage continuously with district administrations and police departments to support this campaign.
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has enforced the Quality Control Order (QCO) as of June 1, 2021, mandating that all helmets comply with the BIS standard IS 4151: 2015. Any helmet manufactured or sold without this certification violates the Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 2016. It has been observed that many helmets sold on roadsides lack the mandatory BIS certification, posing significant risks to consumers.
India accounts for the highest number of road accident deaths in the world, although mishaps in the US are almost six times more than in India.According to the report, 33 per cent of all road accidents and 35 per cent of fatal accidents took place on national highways and expressways.
