Mangalore: Traffic police seize over 100 sub-standard helmets from riders

Pics: Ramesh Pandith
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (DV)

Mangalore, Jan 22: In a bid to make riding safer in the city, the Mangalore traffic police on Tuesday January 22 carried out a special campaign and seized sub-standard helmets that did not have ISI seal.

The operation was carried out at Pumpwell on Monday January 21 too, and altogether, nearly 125 helmets were seized over the two days. All the helmets were later destroyed and dumped into trash bins.

The traffic police noted that though riders wear helments, many of the helmets were of poor quality and not good enough to protect the rider's head.

"Many of the helmets do not have ISI mark. It has also come to our notice that many riders wear plastic helmets which can cause severe injury to the brain if the person meets with accident," said a police official speaking to Daijiworld.

The police seized more than 50 helmets within Bunder police station limits alone. One of the riders when stopped by the police pleaded that he had no money to buy a branded helmet. However, police replied that they had to fulfil their duty and seized his helmet.

It is said that helmets of nearly 85 percent bike riders do not meet ISI standards. In October 2010, the state government made it compulsory for riders to wear ISI mark helmets. However, despite the law, markets are flooded with sub-standard helmets, and riders are often content to buy them than spend more on standard helmets.