INVC NEWS
Two Wheelers Helmet Manufacturers Association has been proactively taking up the matter of helmet safety in India. Sharing thoughts on National Road Safety Week on the sidelines of SIAM’s Seminar Mr. Rajeev Kapur, President, Two Wheelers Helmet Manufacturers Association and MD, Steelbird Hi-Tech India Ltd said “Urbanisation has led to doubling in traffic fatalities in the past few years with the number of deaths around 3 lacs per year as per WHO report. Most people affected are pedestrians and two wheeler users.”
While we appreciate MoRTH for issuing draft notification for bringing the two wheeler helmet into mandatory list of BIS certification and BIS for implementation of new standard IS4151:2015- India specific helmet standard. However corrective measures need to be taken to save human lives. Notification issued by MoRTH on bringing two wheeler helmets in mandatory BIS list to be gazetted immediately. Awareness alone will not work. Strict enforcement is required. Government should make helmets mandatory pan India.”
As per WHO report 300 thousand people are dying in road accidents in India but this number only includes what is reported and recorded by the Indian Government. On the contrary as per general view more than one million people are dying in India in road accidents because many of the accidents never get reported and recorded.
Also MoRTH should enforce on all OEM’S and SIAM to provide helmets with 2 wheeler as per motor vehicle act as the same is done by Royal Enfield and Vespa / Piaggio. At the time of purchase of 2 wheelers, the manufacturers of two-wheeler should supply a protective headgear confirming to the specifications prescribed by the Bureau of Indian Standards under the Bureau of India standard act 1986.
Therefore MoRTH should take initiatives along with the helmets manufacturers as the minimum investment to meet the Indian demand is approximately 6000 crore including the working capital, and the time frame required is minimum 2-3 years. Also Manufacturers and big organisation should come forward and invest in this field. Considering the current scenario the apprehension is that if they invest in this field and what is the government does not enforce the law. So we request the ministry to carve out the future plans to make helmets mandatory PAN India.”
A Seminar on Emerging Trends of Road Safety supported by the secretary of MoRTH and special commissioner of police was recently organised at India Habitat Centre, New Delhi. It aimed at providing training, technical and brainstorming sessions to the people. The seminar was chaired by some prominent industry players such as Mr. Rajeev Kapur, Managing Director, Steelbird Hi Tech India Ltd who shed light on the helmet standards in India; Mr. Yashpal Sachar, General Manager, Honda Car India; Mr. Ramashankar Pandey, CEO and MD Hella India lighting Ltd.
