Traffic police abort the ISI-helmet rule

Bengaluru: The drive against two wheeler riders and pillion riders using sub standard helmets without ISI certification has been withdrawn by the traffic police after getting clarification from Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS).

The Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic) R. Hithendra wrote to the BIS a week ago in order to seek clarification o helmets meeting the requirements of BIS standards especially the half face helmets.

The BIS in response stated that the requirements of helmets to Indian standards cannot be confirmed through a visual examination, following which the police have decided to withdraw their drive.

Hitendra also added that the traffic policemen on duty cannot decide the standard of helmets by a mere physical inspection and hence it is unfair to penalising bikers for wearing sub-standard helmets.