- 95% of ₹110 Helmets Are Counterfeit – A Silent Killer on Indian Roads
New Delhi, August 28, 2025 — As Uttar Pradesh rolls out its “No Helmet, No Fuel” campaign from September 1, road safety has taken center stage. Under the initiative, petrol pumps will deny fuel to two-wheeler riders without helmets, in a bold attempt to enforce compliance and save lives.
Mr. Rajeev Kapur, President of the Two-Wheeler Helmet Manufacturers Association of India (2WHMA), welcomed the move but raised a pressing concern: the alarming rise of counterfeit helmets flooding the market.
“When the demand for genuine helmets stays constant, the unorganized sector exploits the gap. Fake manufacturers—shockingly, even 95% with BIS licences—flood the market with substandard helmets priced as low as ₹110. These so-called helmets are nothing but death traps,” Mr. Kapur warned.
The Fake Helmet Crisis
According to Mission Save Lives 2.0, nearly 95% of ₹110 helmets are counterfeit, offering no real protection. Unlike certified helmets that withstand impact, these fakes shatter even under minor blows—comparable, Mr. Kapur noted, to fake medicines that provide no cure but cause grave harm.
Broader studies reveal a systemic crisis: nearly 70% of helmets sold in Delhi failed basic impact tests. Counterfeit versions collapsed at first strike, while genuine ISI-certified helmets maintained structural integrity. This exposes a public safety loophole that enforcement drives alone cannot fix.
A Pragmatic Solution
Mr. Kapur proposed a practical intervention to curb the menace:
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Two genuine ISI-certified helmets should be bundled with every new two-wheeler sale, their cost embedded in the vehicle price.
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Motorcycle companies, he argued, are ethical players and would only supply genuine products—ensuring authentic helmets reach consumers first, while starving counterfeiters of demand.
“When authentic helmets dominate the market, campaigns like ‘No Helmet, No Fuel’ will truly save lives,” Mr. Kapur emphasized.
Key Calls to Action
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Mandatory helmet inclusion under Motor Vehicle Rule 138F, enforced at the federal and state levels.
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Strict FIRs and penalties against manufacturers and sellers of counterfeit helmets.
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Nationwide awareness and media campaigns to educate riders that only BIS-certified helmets are legally permitted and life-saving.
Looking Ahead
“The ‘No Helmet, No Fuel’ campaign is both commendable and necessary,” said Mr. Kapur. “But unless we eliminate counterfeit helmets from circulation, the law risks becoming hollow. Road safety is not just about framing rules—it’s about enforcing them with integrity, foresight, and accountability.”
