UP Govt crackdown on sale, use of fake BIS-certified helmets

The Two-Wheeler Helmet Manufacturers Association of India (2WHMA) has lauded the Uttar Pradesh government’s bold crackdown on the sale and use of fake BIS-certified helmets—a move hailed as a model for road safety enforcement across India.

In the wake of alarming road accident statistics—over 46,000 incidents and 24,000 deaths reported in the state last year—the Uttar Pradesh Transport Department has stepped up enforcement of helmet safety norms. The latest directive mandates strict action, including FIRs against violators and intensive public awareness campaigns, to ensure only real BIS-compliant helmets are used on the roads.

Calling the initiative a "landmark decision," Rajeev Kapur, President of 2WHMA and Managing Director of Steelbird Helmets, said, “Uttar Pradesh has taken a monumental step to eliminate the use of fake and substandard helmets that have become silent killers on our roads. This decisive action not only protects lives but also sends a strong message to counterfeiters and negligent manufacturers. We applaud CM Yogi Adityanath and Transport Commissioner BN Singh for setting an example that other states must urgently follow.”.

The 2WHMA has long campaigned for stricter helmet quality enforcement, citing the widespread availability of low-grade, uncertified headgear that offers little to no protection. Kapur stressed that a collaborative push involving policymakers, manufacturers, and citizens is the only way to drive real change.