Helmet Makers Want Karnataka's Half-Helmet Crackdown Extended To Factories And Shops

The Two-Wheeler Helmet Manufacturers Association of India has said that Karnataka's half-helmet crackdown should extend to the manufacturers and retailers supplying unsafe helmets. Karnataka is examining legal provisions to implement Transport Minister Byrathi Suresh's recent announcement of action against such helmets. The association welcomed the decision, which covers the use and sale of half-helmets, with manufacturers also facing action.

Half-Helmet Crackdown Must Cover The Supply Chain

Rajeev Kapur, President, Two-Wheeler Helmet Manufacturers Association of India, said: "We welcome Karnataka's move to address unsafe half-helmets and hold manufacturers and sellers accountable. A rider should not discover the difference between a protective helmet and a substandard shell at the moment of a crash. Helmet quality must become a central part of road-safety enforcement."

Image Source: PTI

Enforcement aimed only at riders would be insufficient without parallel checks across the supply chain, the association said. It specifically sought action against products carrying counterfeit ISI marks, which continue to reach consumers despite a national certification requirement in force for several years.

Kapur added: "Karnataka has an opportunity to set an example by stopping unsafe helmets before they reach riders. Every non-compliant product should be traced from the retailer to the distributor and manufacturer, including those carrying fake ISI marks. Alongside enforcement, people need clear guidance on genuine certification, correct fit and fastening the strap. The outcome must be better protection and fewer families facing preventable loss."

Tracing non-compliant products from retail back to distributors and manufacturers would be central to effective enforcement, according to the association. It called for coordinated inspections by police, transport authorities and the Bureau of Indian Standards. Without that coordination, action at the rider level alone would not address the availability of substandard products.

For Bengaluru's riders, including the growing number of delivery workers who spend long hours on the road, the association wants compliance checks combined with practical guidance on helmet selection, fit and strap use. It also sought awareness campaigns in Kannada and other widely spoken languages to help consumers tell certified helmets from non-compliant ones.

The association said Karnataka could set a model for supply chain enforcement that other states follow, provided the action goes beyond point-of-use checks to cover production and distribution.

Government data presented in Parliament shows Karnataka recorded 3,581 deaths linked to non-use of helmets in 2024, close to ten a day. The state logged 12,390 road accident deaths overall that year. The figures do not specify how many fatalities involved substandard helmets rather than no helmet at all.

The association said the availability of non-compliant products was a contributing factor to rider risk. According to the association, Karnataka recorded more than 6,000 two-wheeler fatalities in 2024. Nationally, the NCRB's Accidental Deaths and Suicides in India 2024 report recorded 1,75,142 road accident deaths. Of these, 84,599, or 48.3%, were two-wheeler users, the largest category of fatalities on Indian roads.

A Quality Control Order issued by the central government in 2021 mandates that all helmets sold in India carry BIS certification and conform to the prescribed safety standard. Helmets that do not meet the requirement are illegal to manufacture, sell or import. The association said non-certified helmets and those bearing fake ISI marks are still sold through retail channels, including roadside outlets with limited regulatory oversight.

The Union Department of Consumer Affairs has also flagged the issue and called for action against manufacturers and retailers selling uncertified helmets. It has noted that such products can give riders a false sense of protection without meeting the structural requirements of the standard.