Hasan Hadi | Dehradun
Highlighting the risks posed by substandard helmets, the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) directed the district authorities across the country to launch a nationwide awareness campaign, urging the consumers to buy only BIS-certified helmets.
The Doonites-ranging from an eminent physician to helmet sellers and buyers this correspondent spoke to-have hailed the Centre’s move while exhorting the people to strictly adhere to the directive.
Asked to comment on this matter, an orthopaedic surgeon and Padma Shri recipient Dr B K S Sanjay lauded the Centre’s move. “With the accident spree continuing unabated here, the people should be doubly cautious to be on the safe side of things. They must make it a rule to purchase helmets only from certified retailers. Helmets must be checked for BIS certification, for these conform to the safety standards,” he said. However, at the same time, he urged the Centre to lower their prices to make them affordable, given their high cost.
A helmet seller based in the city, Manoj said that they sell both low-quality and high-quality helmets. “The lower range starts at ₹300 while a good quality helmet costs at least ₹1000. Older customers and those with limited budgets often opt for cheaper ones while the younger buyers prefer higher quality options,” he added. Another helmet trader Kabir noted the demand for specific types of helmets. “Most customers choose full-face helmets, but some, especially the women, prefer half-face helmets. Both options come with their qualities. However, some companies produce BIS-certified full-face helmets under ₹500, but I doubt whether their quality is ideal for safety. For real protection, helmets priced at ₹1000 and above are better. I must admit though that they are expensive for the common people,” he added.
A homemaker, Priya Gupta, who rides scooty, said that she had bought a cheap, stylish-looking helmet. “With accidents happening thick and fast here, I decided to invest in a high-quality, certified helmet for my safety,” she added.
A young rider from the city Rajiv explained his choice of helmet while speaking to The Pioneer: “Good-quality helmets are expensive; nevertheless, they are crucial for safety. That is why I always opt for a certified one. I am ready to spend extra bucks to ensure my safety amidst the perilous state of things on the city’s roads.”
Notably, a customer may visit BIS care app or BIS website to verify whether a helmet manufacturer is licensed by BIS.
