A helmet on your head should save your life, not put it at risk.

This article is written by Rajeev Kapoor, President, 2WHMA (Two-Wheeler Helmet Manufacturers Association India).Most of the families in our country have a simple habit. Before anyone leaves home on a two-wheeler, there is always a warning: “Wear a helmet.” That sentence comes from caring. out of fear. With the hope that the person returns home safely. But what happens when the helmet itself cannot protect the rider? This is a reality that India needs to talk about more seriously.Over the years, road safety discussions have mainly focused on traffic violations, speeding, penalties and road conditions. No doubt, these are important issues. But another problem is quietly growing in markets across the country: counterfeit helmets.The rider can feel safe by wearing it. The family may feel relieved after seeing this. Even traffic enforcement may assume that the rider is safe. But many helmets sold today are made only to look real. During an accident, they break instantly or fail to absorb the impact properly. And the rider has to suffer the consequences. The sad thing is that most of the people who buy these helmets do not know that they are fake.Helmets are available in local markets and roadside shops at such low prices that people are naturally attracted. Many buyers are daily wage earners, students or delivery riders trying to manage monthly expenses. They are not checking the technical specifications. They just believe that if there is BIS mark on the helmet then it will be safe. Unfortunately, such signals are also now being copied by counterfeiters. This situation is dangerous.Every year a large number of two-wheeler drivers lose their lives in traffic accidents in India. Each number has a real-life background, such as a family losing a son, a child losing its father, or parents losing a child they had raised with aspirations and sacrifices.When safety equipment itself becomes unreliable, the entire purpose of road safety is undermined. The issue is no longer just about people wearing helmets. The issue is whether a helmet can actually save someone’s life during those few critical seconds after impact.As someone who has been involved in the helmet industry for many years, I strongly believe that action must start at the manufacturing level. Counterfeit helmets should never reach the first consumer.No matter how many awareness efforts are made, illegal manufacturing facilities making fake helmets are operating openly in some places and making the goods available across markets. Unless strict action is taken against these networks, fake helmets will continue to spread everywhere. No matter how many awareness programs are conducted, unless serious action is taken against these networks, fake helmets will continue to spread across the world.It is not just about business losses or duplicate products. This is directly related to public safety. There is also another important issue which we rarely discuss. After serious road accidents, the investigation usually focuses on the vehicle, speed or road conditions. Hardly anyone checks whether the helmet used was genuine or fake. This should change.If authorities start checking the BIS license details of helmets involved in fatal accidents, it will become easier to identify counterfeit products and understand how much fake helmets are affecting road safety in India. The proposal to provide two BIS-certified helmets with every motorcycle sold is also a positive step. This can help genuine helmets reach consumers directly through authorized channels instead of unsafe roadside markets.Also, awareness will have to be continued at every level. People should understand that a cheap helmet can become the most expensive mistake of their life. Road safety is not the sole responsibility of the traffic police or manufacturers. This is a shared responsibility.A rider relies on a helmet during the worst moment of life: a crash. That trust should never be broken. Because when a helmet breaks, it’s not just the product that breaks. Sometimes the entire family gets broken due to this.Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the original author and do not represent the Times Group or any of its employees.