Bike Rules: Helmet Laws in India

When you ride your bike on the roadways, it is crucial to make sure you are adhering to traffic safety regulations to avoid unnecessary difficulties. Wearing a helmet is one of the best methods to guarantee your safety. In the event of any accident, a helmet will protect your head and face from serious injury.

 

Moreover, as per the Indian Motor Vehicles Act, wearing a helmet while riding your bike on public roads is one of the primary bike rules. And if you ride your bike without wearing a helmet, you will have to pay a fine. Hence, in order to avoid these difficulties, you must wear a helmet. 

Driving a two-wheeler without a helmet is a violation of the law in India. The reason behind mandating bike rules is the rising number of two-wheeler accidents.  Furthermore, many significant injuries involve the head, making wearing a helmet even more important. 

 

As per the reports, while there were 35,975 deaths in 2017 as a result of not wearing a helmet, the figure increased to 43,614 in 2018. This shocking number of fatalities, which riders could only avoid by wearing helmets, most likely led the government to improve on India's already existing helmet rules.

 

In 2019, two-wheelers were involved in almost 37% of traffic accidents. The majority of the frightening rate of casualties is the consequence of brain injuries, which indicates the astonishing disregard for helmet use among two-wheeler riders. A growing number of road accidents each year has highlighted the need for more severe enforcement of traffic regulations and bike rules.

 

Furthermore, the number of two-wheeler casualties recorded is rather worrying, thus the government decided to improve the helmet legislation in India mentioned in the Motor Vehicles Act, of 1988.

 

To dissuade drivers from driving without a helmet, the government imposed a ₹1,000 fine for not wearing one. Apart from this, there are other fines as well about which you must be aware of. Here’s a table containing details of other fines.

 

Although many bikers are able to comply with helmet laws, there is a lot of uncertainty over the use of helmets by pillion riders. A survey done prior to the creation of the Motor Vehicle Act confirmed this. Only 0.6% of two-wheeler pillion riders use helmets, according to the study.

 

However, it must be remembered that as per the bike rules, both riders and passengers are required to wear helmets when travelling. If you do not wear a helmet as required for drivers, you will be subject to a hefty fine.

The Motor Vehicles Act was enacted in 1988. It has undergone numerous revisions since then to include new provisions and strengthen adherence.The most recent Motor Vehicles Amendment Act of 2019 added 63 new clauses that enhanced the fines for a variety of traffic infractions. 

 

Here are the details about the RTO rules for bikes explained in different sections. 

• Every person above the age of four must wear protective headgear when riding a two-wheeler in a public place, according to Section 129. Also, both the rider and pillion rider are subject to these bike rules of the road. 

• According to Section 129(a), a helmet must be constructed of substances and shaped in such a way that it can provide adequate protection from injuries in the event of an accident.

• According to Section 129(b), the helmet must be connected to the driver's or rider's head by robust fasteners, such as straps affixed to it. This prevents the protective headgear from falling off the wearer's head in the instance of an accident.

 

One of the main bike traffic rules is that bike riders who violate the aforementioned laws may be liable to a Section 194D of this Act punishment of ₹1,000 for failing to wear a helmet. Additionally, this traffic infraction carries a three-month licence suspension penalty.

 

However, if you are a member of the Sikh community and you are wearing a turban while operating a vehicle or a motorbike on public roads, you are exempt from the requirement to wear a helmet.

 

The RTO requirements for helmets in numerous states are based on Section 138 (4) (f) of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules (CMVR) in order to assist bike riders in adhering to these restrictions and avoiding a significant fine.

 

According to this regulation, buyers of two-wheelers must get at least two BIS-compliant headgears — one for the driver and one for the passenger — at the time of the vehicle's purchase. If your dealer neglects to provide documentation of this to the RTO, you may have trouble registering your two-wheeler. However, having two helmets is not the only thing you can do to avoid being fined. Those helmets must be made in accordance with Section 129(a).

Previously, individuals were wearing half helmets. However, due to the incorporation of new provisions and updated bike rules, wearing a half helmet is no longer permitted. The reason behind this is that half helmets only cover half of your head and do not protect your head in the event of an accident.

 

Section 129(a), as previously stated, prescribes certain standards for the construction of a full-face helmet. The Indian government issued an order requiring all helmet manufacturers to meet the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) regulations. These regulations stipulate crucial headgear qualities such as:

• The new weight restriction for helmets has been trimmed from 1.5kg to 1.2kg.

• A helmet must be at least 20-25 mm thick and made of high-quality foam.

• The ISI mark is required by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) on all helmets. Selling helmets without this mark is a legal violation that must be promptly halted.

• All helmet eye coverings must be made of a clear material so that they do not impair the rider's view in any manner.

• Furthermore, these headgears must have completed the required BIS testing. These tests consist of impact absorption testing conducted in various weather and speed circumstances.

 

If you are caught wearing a bike helmet that is not authorised and does not adhere to any of the aforementioned requirements, authorities will immediately seize the helmet and destroy it. In addition to this, the dealers of these headgear will also face legal consequences.

Many states have created interim restrictions in place of the strict regulations outlined in the updated Motor Vehicle Act. Here is a table of the states' requirements for bike riding rules. 

The new bike traffic rules and laws should not be disregarded or ignored since doing so will ultimately put your safety in jeopardy. Most essential, do not minimise the value of helmets for children. No matter how old the passengers are, never ride with more than two passengers. All of these regulatory requirements are ultimately just there to make sure you travel safely.