[TusharK]

According to a media report, every new two-wheeler in the state of Maharashtra will be sold with two helmets.



The report states that the Transport Commissioner of the state has issued a letter to the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) stating that it will be mandatory for OEMs to provide two BIS-standard helmets to customers at time of sale of two-wheelers in the state. Failing to do so could result in a blanket ban on the registration of two-wheelers in the entire state.

The Maharashtra High Court Nagpur Bench found that manufacturers have been violating laws and were not supplying helmets at the time of sales as prescribed by the Central Motor Vehicle Rules, 1989. The court then directed the Transport Commissioner to ensure that prescribed ISI-marked helmets were being supplied by the manufacturers.

Source

Link to Team-BHP News

[EuroMachine]

While it is a good move to ensure people have quality helmets for their commute, wondering what happens to the helmet retailers and those already with sufficient helmets at home.

[Researcher]

In my opinion, two helmets is a bit of an overkill. Not everyone will be having a pillion for their vehicles all the time. Additionally, this could be redundant and wasteful, both financially and environmentally, if someone is looking to replace an older vehicle and already has a better/safer helmet compared to what is being sold by the dealerships. There needs to be more effort, research and logic to such rules and declarations in the country (the NGT ban being another knee-jerk ruling), especially when millions of people and their hard-earned money is involved.
Slightly off-topic, but I wonder where would one store two helmets! Apart from the Kinetic/Mahindra Flyte, I am yet to find any two-wheeler where two helmets can be stored safely (protected from weather and theft, at least). Even in the Flyte, one full-face could be stored under-seat along with an open-faced one, which anyway should not be preferred.

[2000rpm]

I think this is a good move. Imagine the following scenarios

Scenario 1 - Buyer has no helmet: They will use it for rider and pillion because of availability.
Scenario 2 - Buyer has one helmet already: They will use one new one and one as back-up or donate it to a friend or relative. Or sell it on OLX. Reserve it for their kids.
Scenario 3 - Buyer has two helmets already: They will sell on OLX or donate. Reserve it for their kids.

In all scenarios, the presence of helmets in the ecosystem will increase. Which is a good thing I feel, because as Indians, we tend to utilize stuff we have but avoid buying stuff which is not mandatory.

[MaxTorque]

Yet another funny step. In my humble opinion authorities should try to educate and nurture the culture of helmet usage. Unless we develop the safety culture it won't be of any use. Also it should implement the rule strictly. I wonder why can't authorities offload the fine collection to some private organizations.

The best step to improve safety of our two wheeler riders is to plant something inside their heads not outside their heads.

[self_driven]

Someone who can afford a 50-60k rupee two-wheeler can definitely buy one, if not two, decent thousand rupee helmet. Just because people have a helmet does not ensure that they'll use it. This judgement does nothing to solve the actual problem in hand i.e. lack of awareness and rule enforcement.

[warrioraks]

Originally Posted by TusharK

According to a media report, every new two-wheeler in the state of Maharashtra will be sold with two helmets.

Will this stop people from using helmets as elbow guards?

I agree with Maxtorque, educating people about the importance of their heads is the only sustainable way in the long term.

Originally Posted by MaxTorque

Yet another funny step. In my humble opinion authorities should try to educate and nurture the culture of helmet usage. Unless we develop the safety culture it won't be of any use. Also it should implement the rule strictly. I wonder why can't authorities offload the fine collection to some private organizations.

The best step to improve safety of our two wheeler riders is to plant something inside their heads not outside their heads.

[Kakashi91]

I personally don't like this mandate. I prefer to invest my hard earned money on safety gear of my choice, and wouldn't like the government to interfere there. Although, I do understand the intentions of this mandate.
Rather than making the purchase of helmets a mandate, why can't they enforce the already present law which makes it compulsory to wear a helmet?

[livetodrive]

How we are supposed to educate 150 crore people who fail to understand the importance of their brain ? Hand twisting, penalizing are the only ways.

Completely support the move. Next step should be to forcefully sale connected helmets, means your 2 wheeler won't cross 10KMPH if you leave your helmet at home or sale it off. The spare helmet would come handy if in case the first helmet fails to connect to the machine.

No helmet ... no driving. Period.

[nagr22]

While I appreciate this initiative, there are far more serious offenses to be curtailed. What is the point of wearing a helmet while anyways he/she is going to drive against the direction of traffic? Will helmet save me while I am driving my two wheeler obeying all the traffic rules and speed when suddenly a water tanker/tipper lorry comes from the wrong side and crushes me?
Why is government being so forceful about enforcing personal safety of two wheelers while nothing is being done to stop these high beam wielding Yamarajas from driving on the wrong side? Enforcing helmets has only been a way for traffic cops to make some money rather than bring any meaningful change to the society. In my personal opinion, leave helmet/seat belt as a personal choice, stop caring so much about riders/drivers who don't care about their personal safety and start doing something to curb the menace of wrong side drivers, signal jumpers etc who are more dangerous to the safety of a common man!
Sorry for the long rant, I am totally frustrated after driving/riding everyday in Bangalore seeing all sorts of rule breakers doing their businesses carelessly while the cops only care to catch helmetless drivers and bikes with faulty number plates!

[aniketi]

Really sad move. Can't force people to buy helmet from manufacturer. What if people has helmet already? What if they don't like helmets available & want something different or of better quality? Why force somebody? Anyways 75% people don't wear helmet, so it's a waste of money for them.

I guess this move has more of a political background and some hidden financial benefits for some people, sad but true. If they want people to be safe, first make good roads, make strict rules, make sure people follow rules so that accidents are reduced drastically at first place.

[paragsachania]

How will Pune react to this now?

Having seen umpteen protests each time helmet rule is strictly implemented, I am sure the same section of junta that doesn't like to wear helmets for the funniest reasons will register an association and revolt this move too.

But like others mention, 2 helmets per bike is an overkill. I don't know how it is today but 2 Wheeler manufacturers like HMSIL should instead give non removable mirrors as part of standard accessories without charging for it. I remember in 2007 how I had emailed HMSIL asking them how mirrors were charged extra by a dealer when we bought our Activa. Not only that, we were charged for the number plates too. I don't know what is the practice today.

[gadadhar]

It is a good move and should encourage more people to use helmets. I think more states will follow the model. It is a small cost that the manufacturer or the dealer can absorb.

[warrioraks]

Originally Posted by gadadhar

It is a good move and should encourage more people to use helmets. I think more states will follow the model. It is a small cost that the manufacturer or the dealer can absorb.

100% of the cost will be passed to the consumer.

Also if I am not wrong, this rule has been enforced in Delhi for around 10 years now. I don’t see this working at all!

[JithinR]

Originally Posted by gadadhar

It is a good move and should encourage more people to use helmets. I think more states will follow the model. It is a small cost that the manufacturer or the dealer can absorb.

Unfortunately, that is not going to be the case in India. We will pay for it.

People like us should get even more pissed because we can pay for our own damn helmets (actual ECE or SNELL ones not this ISI crap..because we care for our lives not whether the Mamu's are standing at the junction today).