Is your helmet good enough to save your head? Often not, say police and experts Premium

The fear of being caught for traffic rule violation has indeed compelled many two-wheeler riders to wear helmets. But one cursory look at riders at any traffic junction in Bengaluru shows that more than half the riders have on their heads non-standard helmets, designed solely to evade the eye of law, with little concern for the safety of their own heads.

The fear of being caught for traffic rule violation has indeed compelled many two-wheeler riders to wear helmets. But one cursory look at riders at any traffic junction in Bengaluru shows that more than half the riders have on their heads non-standard helmets, designed solely to evade the eye of law, with little concern for the safety of their own heads.

In recent years, Bengaluru has witnessed a troubling surge in road fatalities, a significant portion of which has been attributed to the use of non-standard helmets and helmet-less riders.

A study by Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS) and Bangalore Traffic Police (BTP) in February this year revealed that 80% of riders in Bengaluru wear helmets. However, only 25%-30% of them wear standard helmets.

Despite stringent traffic regulations and awareness campaigns, many riders continue to opt for substandard protective gear, often prioritising cost and convenience over safety. A report by BTP reveals an increase in deaths by 21%, due to the use of non-standard helments.

The BTP report says that fatality of bike riders surged by 21% between 2021-2023, despite wearing helmets. The report said that 369 fatalities were reported from 2023 alone and death of riders without helmets of any kind were only 184. 

Speaking to The Hindu, M.N. Anucheth, Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic), said that 50% of the violations recorded by the BTP were related to helmet violations, “We have been urging and enforcing the use of standard helmets. I request people to do so, as they are risking their own lives. When you look at the violations recorded by us, 50% of them are related to helmet violations. We are trying our bit and we know that much more needs to be done, but people need to understand that their safety is in their own hands and nobody else’s.”

Dr. G. Gururaj, former director, of the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), said that the use of non-standard helmets can lead to severe neurological complications.