This article is written by Rajeev Kapoor, President, 2WHMA (Two Wheeler Helmet Manufacturers Association India).Most of the families in our country have a simple habit. Before anyone leaves home on a two-wheeler, there’s always a reminder: “Get a helmet.” This phrase comes from care. out of fear Hoping that the person will return home safely. But what happens when the helmet itself cannot protect the rider? This is a reality that India needs to discuss more seriously.over the years, Road safety The discussion mainly focused on traffic violations, speeding, fines and road conditions. These are important issues, no doubt. But another problem is quietly growing in markets across the country: fake helmets.A rider can feel safe wearing it. Family members can feel relieved to see it. Even a traffic enforcer may assume the rider is safe. But many helmets sold today are designed just to look real. During a crash, they quickly break or fail to absorb the impact properly. And the rider has to suffer the consequences. Sadly, most people who buy these helmets don’t even know they are fake.Helmets are available at such low prices in local markets and roadside shops that people naturally gravitate towards them. Many buyers are daily wage earners, students or delivery workers trying to manage monthly expenses. They are not testing technical specifications. They just believe that if the helmet has the BIS mark on it, it must be safe. Unfortunately, such indicators are now being copied by counterfeit goods. Due to this, the situation is dangerous.In India, a significant number of two-wheeler riders lose their lives in traffic accidents every year. Each number has a real-life background, such as a family losing a son, a child losing a father, or a parent losing a child they have raised with desire and sacrifice.When the safety equipment itself becomes unreliable, the entire purpose of road safety is undermined. The problem is no longer just helmet wearers. At issue is whether a helmet can really save a life during those few critical seconds after impact.As someone who has been associated with the helmet industry for many years, I strongly believe that action must begin at the manufacturing level. A fake helmet should never reach the consumer.No matter how many awareness efforts are made, illegal facilities manufacturing fake helmets are operating openly in some places and supplying the markets. Unless strict action is taken against these networks, fake helmets will continue to proliferate everywhere. No matter how many awareness programs are put in place, fake helmets will continue to proliferate across the world unless strict action is taken against these networks.It’s not just about business losses or duplicate products. It is directly linked to public safety. There is another important issue that we rarely talk about. After serious road accidents, investigations usually focus on the vehicle, speed or road conditions. Hardly anyone checks whether the helmet used was genuine or fake. It must change.If authorities start checking BIS license details of helmets involved in fatal accidents, it will be easier to identify fake products and understand how fake helmets are affecting road safety in India. The proposal to provide two BIS certified helmets with every motorcycle sale is also a positive step. This can help genuine helmets reach consumers directly through authorized channels instead of unsecured roadside markets.Along with this, awareness should continue at every level. People should understand that a cheap helmet can turn out to be the most expensive mistake of their life. Road safety is not the responsibility of traffic police or industrialists alone. It is a shared responsibility.A rider relies on a helmet during the worst possible moment in life: a crash. This trust should never be broken. Because when a helmet fails, it’s not the product alone that breaks. Sometimes, an entire family is torn apart by it.Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the original author and do not represent those of The Times Group or its employees.
