Association welcomes the Court’s intervention, calls for strict enforcement for riders and pillion passengers, and urges a parallel crackdown on fake ISI-marked helmets

Ahmedabad (Gujarat) [India], October 12: The Two Wheeler Helmet Manufacturers Association has welcomed the Gujarat High Court’s strong observations on the lack of effective enforcement of mandatory helmet rules, calling for immediate, consistent and state-wide implementation of helmet regulations for both two-wheeler riders and pillion passengers.

During proceedings concerning traffic management and road safety in Ahmedabad, the Gujarat High Court questioned the state government over the apparent lack of compliance with helmet rules and asked why the existing mandate was not being effectively implemented. The Court also raised concerns about fatal road accidents involving two-wheelers and dumper trucks, alongside dangerous practices such as using mobile phones while driving.

The association believes that the Court’s intervention provides an important opportunity for Gujarat to strengthen road-safety enforcement, ensure compliance with applicable helmet laws and establish a sustained mechanism to protect two-wheeler occupants.

Mr Rajeev Kapur, President of the Two Wheeler Helmet Manufacturers Association, said: We welcome and appreciate the Gujarat High Court’s firm observations on helmet rule enforcement. Helmet regulations exist to protect human lives, and their effectiveness depends on consistent implementation rather than merely having the rules on paper. Both riders and pillion passengers must comply with the applicable requirements. There should be no ambiguity in enforcement, and road safety must not be treated as a matter of convenience.

The Court’s observations highlight a fundamental issue: when safety regulations already exist, the priority must be to ensure that they are implemented effectively. We urge the Gujarat government and traffic police to translate these observations into a clear, time-bound enforcement strategy, supported by regular monitoring, public awareness and accountability.

Government’s Reported Recruitment of 650 Traffic Personnel Offers an Opportunity to Strengthen Enforcement

The state government informed the High Court that 650 traffic personnel had been recruited. The government also stated that Traffic Brigade personnel would receive traffic-management training within 30 days before being deployed.

The association believes that this reported recruitment and training initiative should be used to strengthen on-road enforcement, including compliance with helmet regulations, alongside other traffic-management priorities.

Mr Kapur added: The reported recruitment of 650 traffic personnel is an opportunity to reinforce traffic management and road-safety enforcement. We urge the authorities to ensure that helmet compliance is an integral part of the enforcement strategy. Regular checks, appropriate penalties under the law and sustained monitoring can help build a culture in which wearing a helmet becomes a normal and non-negotiable safety practice.

Enforcement should cover both the rider and the pillion passenger. A person travelling on the rear seat is equally deserving of protection, and the law must be implemented consistently for everyone to whom it applies.

Enforcement Must Also Target Fake ISI-Marked Helmets

While stronger enforcement against motorists who violate helmet rules is essential, the association has emphasised that the road-safety effort will remain incomplete unless authorities also address the manufacture and sale of counterfeit and non-compliant helmets.

A helmet’s appearance or the presence of a printed certification mark alone cannot establish that it is genuine and compliant. Products carrying counterfeit ISI marks can mislead consumers and undermine confidence in certified safety equipment.

The association has therefore urged the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), Gujarat Police, consumer protection authorities and relevant enforcement agencies to intensify inspections and take action against manufacturers, distributors and retailers found violating applicable certification and product-safety requirements.

Mr Kapur said: We must address both sides of the helmet-safety challenge. While motorists must wear helmets, the market must also ensure that consumers have access to genuine, compliant products. A fake ISI-marked helmet can create a dangerous false sense of security. Strict action is needed against those who misuse the ISI Standard Mark, manufacture helmets without the required valid certification or sell products that fail to meet mandatory safety requirements.

We urge the authorities to verify BIS licence details, inspect manufacturing facilities and retail markets, trace the supply chains of suspected counterfeit products and take stringent action wherever violations are established. Genuine manufacturers invest in quality, testing and compliance; those who bypass these requirements should not be allowed to put consumers at risk or undermine the credibility of the industry.

A Three-Pronged Road-Safety Strategy for Gujarat

The association has called for a coordinated approach built around three priorities:

1. Strict helmet compliance: Consistent enforcement of applicable helmet rules for riders and pillion passengers, with regular checks and appropriate action against violations.

2. Crackdown on counterfeit products: Stronger market surveillance, verification of certification and action against the manufacture, distribution and sale of counterfeit ISI-marked and non-compliant helmets.

3. Public awareness and accountability: Sustained campaigns educating motorists about the importance of genuine, compliant helmets, alongside transparent monitoring of enforcement outcomes.

The association has also called for better coordination between traffic police, BIS and state enforcement agencies to ensure that efforts to improve helmet compliance are complemented by effective control over the products being sold to consumers.

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