Chennai: City cops have already started checking and penalising two-wheelers who are not wearing ISI-marked helmets. Many bikers have been complaining that even if they wear helmets that meet global, higher standards, police continue to slap fines on them as they look only for the ISI mark.
“Many of my friends are using helmets with ECE and DOT standards which are approved in the US and Europe. These standards are higher than the ISI. Moreover, these imported helmets provide good ventilation and better view than most Indian helmets. But the police have fined my friends,” said Shaiju Balagopal, a regular biker who owns an HR firm at Choolaimedu.
A branded helmet seller told DC that that some local helmet vendors are fixing fake ISI stickers to cheap helmets and are selling them at slightly higher prices. Bikers can even get an ISI sticker fixed to a cheap helmet with a nominal price. A senior police officer told DC that according to the rule wearing an ISI helmet is mandatory, but the finer details of the penalties are yet to be decided.
(with inputs from V.P. Raghu)
