Mysuru: Just three days are left for you to purchase an ISI-marked helmet as prescribed by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). For, the city Police, as announced earlier, will launch a drive from Feb.1 to penalise two-wheeler riders and pillion if they are not wearing ISI helmets.

Interestingly, the Bengaluru Traffic Police has decided to withdraw its earlier decision to penalise motorists and pillion riders using substandard helmets without ISI certification.

Just three days prior to the crackdown, which was scheduled to begin on Feb.1, the Bengaluru Traffic Police have withdrawn the initiative following a clarification from the BIS. The Bengaluru Police had written to the BIS seeking clarification on helmets conforming to BIS standards, especially with regards to half-face helmets and imported ones.

In its reply, the BIS had stated that the ISI mark can be used by only those helmet manufacturers who are having a valid BIS certification mark licence. It also stated that the authenticity of the ISI mark cannot be confirmed by visual examination and it has to be sent to the BIS for checking or to the manufacturers.

Following the BIS reply, the Bengaluru Traffic Police have decided to abort their drive. It’s not just motorcyclists who have got a reprieve in Bengaluru, Traffic Police, too, are relieved as they were not looking forward to altercations with motorcyclists.

But there is no such relief for two-wheeler riders in Mysuru and riders will be penalised from Feb.1 if they do not have ISI helmets. Speaking to Star of Mysore this morning, Mysuru City Police Commissioner Dr. A Subrahmanyeswara Rao said that a penalty of Rs. 100 will be levied from Feb.1.

When asked about the Bengaluru Traffic Police’s decision not to launch the drive from Feb.1, he said, “People should not have any doubts about the helmet drive. They are supposed to follow rules as per the Motor Vehicles Act. We will strictly enforce the rules and violators have to cough up a fine of Rs. 100 from Feb. 1,” he said. There is a lot of confusion regarding the authenticity of ISI-mark helmets sold in the market and imported helmets, which do not have ISI-mark, and this has baffled both the Cops and riders. With some helmet manufacturers selling duplicate brands with ISI mark, the lengthy process of identifying them has made the Policemen’s job difficult and buyers too fall prey to such fake brands.