Mysuru: Giving a breather to motorists to purchase ISI-mark helmets by Jan. 31, the City Police have begun a crackdown on vendors who are selling substandard helmets. Deciding to plug the sale of dangerous and fibre-made helmets from the source, the Police have intensified the drive to raid shops, roadside pushcarts and make-shift places that sell non-standard helmets within the city limits and also outskirts.

The Police have advised the public to ensure that the helmets have the ISI mark as prescribed by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). “As we have banned the use of half-helmets and inferior helmets, vendors are passing off non-standard helmets as ISI-marked ones. One can easily identify if the ISI seal is original or duplicate as some vendors are using screen-printing technology to print the ISI seal,” said a Police Officer who was seen demonstrating an ISI-marked helmet to public in front of a helmet shop on Chamaraja Double Road this morning.

The Central government has made it mandatory for all helmets to bear the ISI mark provided by the BIS. But most  motorists are not aware of the rule and buy cheap helmets from the roadside.

Speaking to Star of Mysore this morning, Mahaveer Jain, Proprietor of Head and Gears helmet shop on Chamaraja Double Road, said that ISI standards for helmets are approved after certain tests like impact absorption, resistance to penetration, rigidity and dynamic test of retention system apart from audibility and visibility. As per rules, the visors used in the helmets also need ISI standards.

In India, Vega, Steelbird and Studds manufacture ISI-marked helmets and people can buy from these companies without any fear or apprehensions, he added. “An ISI standard helmet has a strong shell, protective and comfortable padding, retention system with chain strap and standard visor. Non-ISI helmets have only low-quality shells and simple padding with a layer,” Mahaveer Jain said.  

The Police said that roadside vendors were convincing customers that they were selling ISI standard helmets. “A branded helmet manufacturer with ISI standard does not use stickers or labels. Roadside vendors are simply sticking an ISI label on the helmets. Motorists can claim compensation at consumer forums if they are injured while wearing ISI branded helmets during accidents,” he said.

City Police Commissioner Dr. A. Subrahmanyeswara Rao said that Police had not seized the sub-standard helmets. “We have only taken them into our safe custody. The names and phone numbers of helmet owners have been taken and they will be returned,” he said. However, only negligible number of sub-standard helmets had been returned so far, Police officers admitted. The owners of helmets need to produce a BIS-standard helmet before taking the sub-standard helmets back.

MCC INFORMED ABOUT RAIDS

Speaking to SOM, DCP (Crime and Traffic) Dr. Vikram V. Amathe said that the Police from various traffic divisions are themselves raiding places where inferior quality helmets are sold. “We had written to the MCC a week back to crackdown on the sale of helmets as carrying out raids comes under their jurisdiction. As there was no response from the MCC and considering the safety of people, we ourselves are raiding places and seizing non-standard helmets though we don’t have the powers to do so,” he said.

Police said that majority of raids are being conducted on the Ring Road, Hunsur Road, Nanjangud Road and Metagalli.

“Yesterday alone, the KR Police seized 70 helmets, 150 helmets at N.R. Police and over 60 non-standard helmets have been seized within V.V. Puram Traffic limits. On an average we are seizing 200 to 300 such helmets per day and we will continue the raids till Jan. 31,” Dr. Amathe said.

Isi-marked Helmets Vs Non-standard Helmets

• All ISI-marked helmets are not of standard quality
• ISI mark can easily be removed if it is screen-printed in an inferior helmet
• Good helmets are rigid and light-weighted
• The padding inside is comfortable and cushiony
• Retention system is with chain strap and a standard visor
• Non-ISI helmets have low-quality shells and simple padding with a layer
• ISI helmets do not have stickers or labels
• Roadside vendors simply stick an ISI label on the helmets