Helmet regulations to be revised from 4th September
The earlier 1.2kgs cap on the maximum weight of a helmet has been revised to 1.5kgs and will come into effect from 4th September 2020. This move allows global brands to be sold in India.
By autoX Editorial
The earlier 1.2kgs cap on the maximum weight of a helmet has been revised to 1.5kgs and will come into effect from 4th September. This allows global helmet brands to be sold in India.
Exactly two years ago, the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) introduced a new set of regulations for helmets sold in India. The revised norm reduced the maximum permissible weight limit for helmets from 1.5kg to 1.2kg. With the help of this new policy, the BIS hoped to encourage usage of helmets by making it lighter and thereby more comfortable. While the intention was good, it brought much disappointment among safety-conscious enthusiasts, as it restricted the sale of imported helmet brands – almost all such helmets weigh more than 1.2kg. As per the revised regulations coming into effect from 4th September, the helmet weight limit has once again been changed to 1.5kg.
No doubt this revision in the policy is a welcome change, but there is still a problem area that needs to be addressed. It is mandatory for all helmets sold and used in India to be ISI certified. This rule was made to curb sale and usage of cheap helmets that don’t have certified safety standards and are unlikely to provide adequate safety. On the flip side, it makes imported helmets, that comply with more stringent safety standards like DOT, ECE, or SNELL illegal as well. While we celebrate the government's decision to revise the weight limit, we hope that the government will reconsider the 'ISI-certified-only' condition as well.
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