Cuttack: Even as enforcement against traffic violations has intensified, road safety experts have raised concerns over the sale of substandard helmets in city markets, warning that many riders are opting for cheap and non-ISI certified headgears merely to avoid challans rather than to ensure safety.According to road safety activists, several roadside vendors and small shops across Cuttack city are openly selling lightweight and low-quality helmets priced between Rs 200 and Rs 500. These helmets often lack proper impact resistance and do not carry the certification mark of the (Bureau of Indian Standards) BIS, making them unsafe for use. “Helmets are meant to save lives, not just to escape a fine. A helmet, which is not ISI certified, is as good as not wearing one during an accident,” Bikash Mohapatra, a road safety expert, said.A sturdy and ISI-certified helmet with the BIS mark starts from around Rs 1,500 and can go up to Rs 1 lakh.“Almost 60% of helmets used by people are substandard and don’t have any certification. Many of these products crack on minor impact and provide no real protection to the skull,” Mohapatra added.Activists also demanded penalties for both sellers and buyers of uncertified helmets. “Enforcement just can’t stop at checking whether a rider is wearing a helmet or not, its quality must also be checked. We must also verify whether it meets safety standards. Unless regular market inspections are conducted and non-ISI helmets are seized, substandard products will continue to flood the market. Strict penalties for both sellers and buyers of uncertified helmets are essential to ensure real compliance and save lives,” Minati Bindhani, another road safety activist, said.Traffic officials admit that while regular drives are conducted to check helmet use, monitoring the quality and certification of helmets remains a challenge. “Our focus has been on ensuring compliance with helmet rules. However, people must understand that wearing a poor-quality helmet defeats the very purpose of the law,” Jayanta Dora, ACP traffic (Cuttack), said, adding, “We are planning awareness campaigns to educate riders about certified helmets.”Doctors, too, have echoed the concern, stating that head injuries remain one of the leading causes of fatalities in two-wheeler accidents. “In many accident cases, we find that the helmet either broke instantly or came off due to poor straps and design,” Dr M N Dhir, a neurosurgeon at a govt hospital, said. “An ISI-certified helmet significantly reduces the severity of head trauma,” Dhir added.Experts have urged the district administration to conduct market inspections and seize substandard helmets, while also appealing to citizens to prioritise safety over savings.
