Riders with unstrapped helmets and no ISI mark to get Rs 2,000 fine

Two-wheeler riders who do not wear good-quality helmets and strap them to stay in place properly will be fined up to Rs 2,000. The latest updates to the Motor Vehicle Act say all helmets should have an ISI mark or BSI certification. Riders are also asked to avoid unstrapped protection gear on the road.

Non-ISI branded helmets have been banned since June 1, 2021. However, it is not clear what the government's position is on imported helmets with international certifications like DOT, Snell, or ECE. Professional riders often choose helmets with international certifications.

Section 194D of the Motor Vehicles Act says riders who do not follow the provisions made under Section 129 shall be punishable with a fine of Rs 1,000 and their license will be suspended for three months.

Section 129 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1998 makes it clear that every rider in public should wear headgear as per the standards of the Bureau of Indian Standards. The helmet should be "securely fastened to the head of the wearer using straps or other fastenings provided".

The Motor Vehicle Act has been made stricter to reduce road accident-related deaths.

According to a report in the American Journal of Surgery, wearing a helmet cuts the risks of severe traumatic brain injury by 50%. Riders who get into an accident are 44% less likely to die from their head injury if they wore a helmet. They are also 31% less likely to break bones in the face.