Two helmets to be made compulsory with new bike, moped

The state of Maharastra will soon ensure that the two helmets are being provided to the customer at the time of delivery. As per the Motor Vehicles Act, it is mandatory for the manufacturers to offer two BIS-standard helmets with every two-wheeler purchased, or they will face a blanket ban in the state. The blog will not go into the details of the act and other legal stuff but will be majorly focusing on why it is necessary.

Why is Helmet Necessary?

We all are somehow aware of the risk it takes while riding the bike. Both rider and pillion have an equal amount of risk and this cannot be denied. In the year 2018 more than 3,500 two-wheeler rider and over 1,700 pillion riders lost their lives due to the non-usage of the helmets in Maharashtra state alone.

As per the road safety report by the World Health Organisation, head injuries are a major cause of death among two-wheelers. It is also suggested that the right use of the helmet can reduce the fatal risk of about 42 percent fatal and head injuries by 69 percent.

Why is a Safety Standard important?

Most of the riders opts for the cheap helmets that are sold roadside which does not have a safety standard marks. Wearing these helmets won’t offer safety and will only be there for namesake. So to make sure that good safety standard helmet is to be offered to the customer, the Court has directed the transport commissioner to ensure that the prescribes ISI helmets as per BIS standards were being supplied by the manufacturer, failing which the court will ban the registration of two-wheelers in the entire state.
As consumers, we should also make sure that we are offered 2 helmets as whenever we take delivery of the bike. Also, make sure that the helmet is BIS standard marked. Any two-wheeler is a death trap if proper safety gear is not worn.

Issues dues to Negligence

Many major cities in Maharastra like Mumbai, Pune, Nashik it has a major concern about safety. But due to some strict actions by the government, it has seen an increase in the awareness in these years. In the financial capital Mumbai, about 4,24,000 challans were being issued due to riding without a helmet in 2016. In later year it dipped to 1,45,00 and about 1,14,000 in 2018. So it seems that people are taking this as a serious. We hope that the law of 2-helmets compulsion to be made mandatory across pan India soon. Also as two-wheeler riders, we must pledge that we should ride with complete safety gear and make our ride safe.

We at Motor Octane always advice individuals to ride safely. Riding within limits will not cause harm to you as well as others. Let us know in the comments, your opinion on this law.