Here’s some bad news for folks on two-wheelers who value their life more than others. Premium helmets with DoT and ECE rating would soon attract penalty in Bengaluru. The Traffic Police have announced that only the riders using ISI certified helmets would not be penalized from February 1, 2018.
Before we start listing out the pros of wearing a DoT and ECE certified helmets, let us clarify that some local brands like Steelbird, Studds and Vega are known for manufacturing good quality products that can save a regular commuter on a entry-level displacement motorcycle to a fair extent. But performance motorcycles require special helmets which can protect the rider in case of a high speed crash.
To put things in perspective, a 110cc Hero MotoCorp Passion or a Bajaj Discover 110 can achieve a top speed of 95-100 kmph. A KTM 200 Duke can go upto 137 kmph before it hits the redline in sixth gear. In comparison, a 210 PS Kawasaki Ninja ZX10R can reach speeds of upto 167 kph in first gear — nope, that is not a typo.
Note: We do not promote riding at high-speed on public roads
It seems that even the traffic police department has its own confusions. While the traffic regulation authority suggested that helmets ratified by DoT and ECE that are approved by the Bureau of Indian Standards are legal, R Hitendra, additional commissioner of police (traffic), told Times Of India, “We will not accept such helmets. We will only accept those with an ISI mark.”
Why are DoT/ECE/Snell certified helmets important?
- The global safety standards set by DoT/ECE/Snell are far more stringent and the helmets approved by these regulatory authorities are designed to offer better protection in case of high-speed crashes.
- Helmets from manufacturers like AGV, Shoei, Arai and the likes come in different shell sizes for a perfect fit to the rider which is crucial for performance motorcycles.
- These helmets are also designed for better aerodynamics and air-circulation to ensure easy flow of air and steady placement of helmet at high speeds.
We’re not against locally manufactured, ISI certified helmets but banning globally approved safety standards isn’t a smart move and we hope that the Bengaluru Traffic Police reconsiders its decision.