Bhubaneswar: The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways on Friday issued the ‘Helmet for riders of Two Wheelers Motor Vehicles (Quality Control ) Order, 2020.
Under the new directive, the protective helmets for two-wheeler riders have been included under compulsory BIS certification and the publication of the Quality Control Order (QUO).
The Ministry has accepted the recommendation of Supreme Court appointed Committee on Road Safety for lighter helmets in the country.
Earlier, the Committee was formed to consider lighter helmets in India suiting the country's climatic conditions and that for ensuring compliance amongst citizen to wear the helmets as per the directions of the Supreme Court.
The Committee constituted members and experts from different fields, including doctors from AIIMS and also from BIS.
After detailed analysis, the Committee in its report has recommended lighter helmets in the country.
As per the recommendations of the Committee, the BIS has revised specifications through which it is expected to make lighter helmets. With good competition in the Indian markets and with numerous helmet manufacturers, now it is expected that the competition would ensure the demand for good quality and lighter helmets.
The total number of two-wheelers being manufactured in India annually is nearly 1.7 crore.
QCO would mean that only BIS certified two wheeler helmets would be manufactured and sold in the country for two wheelers. This would help in avoiding sale of low quality two wheeler helmets which would in turn help in protecting citizens involved in two wheeler accidents from fatal injuries.