Latest news with #MissionSaveLives2.0India
Business Standard
16 hours ago
- Business Standard
Steelbird Helmets' launches 'Mission Save Lives 2.0 India' at National Summit on VRU and Road Safety
VMPL New Delhi [India], June 13: In a landmark move to address India's alarming road safety crisis, Mr. Rajeev Kapur, Managing Director of Steelbird Helmets, launched "Mission Save Lives 2.0 India" at the National Summit on Vulnerable Road Users (VRUs) and Road Safety. The summit, designed to align with the objectives of the Marrakech Declaration in India's context, brought together key stakeholders including government officials, researchers, industry experts, and road safety advocates to collectively chart a safer path forward. Mission Save Lives 2.0 India was launched against the backdrop of this summit, which focused on critical areas such as the VRU Safety Crisis and Required Solutions in India, Safe Road Design: Need of the Hour, the Role of Government, Media, NGOs, and Private Sectors on Road Safety, and Safer Mobility & Transportation. During the summit the eminent speakers incudes Mr. Mitra Sen Verma, Scientist-E and Director, Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), Government of India; Prof. Manoranjan Parida, Director, CSIR-Central Road Research Institute; and Dr. Mukti Advani, Senior Principal Scientist, CSIR-Central Road Research Institute. India recorded approximately 1.72 lakh road fatalities and 4.63 lakh injuries in 2023, with VRUs--primarily two-wheeler riders and pedestrians--bearing the brunt. Two-wheeler users alone accounted for nearly 44.8% of all deaths (around 77,000), with an estimated 54,000 fatalities linked directly to the non-use of helmets. Pedestrians contributed to nearly 20% of fatalities (approximately 35,000 deaths). Together, these two groups represented around 65% of total road fatalities, highlighting the urgent need for targeted interventions. "Every day, India loses lives that could be saved by simply wearing a real BIS-certified helmet," Mr. Kapur said at the summit. "Mission Save Lives 2.0 India is a national commitment to make these helmets accessible, affordable, and mandatory for every rider and pillion passenger, including children." The initiative proposes a phased, nationwide implementation beginning in Tier 1 cities in 2028, expanding to Tier 2 cities by 2029, and reaching Tier 3 cities and rural areas by January 2031. The mission aims to systematically tackle helmet non-compliance by region while ensuring manufacturers can scale production to meet the rising demand. A key pillar of the mission is the elimination of counterfeit helmets, a significant threat to road safety. The presentation revealed that 95% of BIS license holders are currently flooding the market with substandard helmets falsely bearing the ISI mark. These helmets, often sold at prices as low as ₹110, fail to meet the IS 4151:2015 safety standards, putting countless lives at risk. Mission Save Lives 2.0 India also calls for stringent licensing reforms--real-time verification and periodic audits of BIS license holders, targeted raids, and strict legal enforcement to dismantle the fake helmet ecosystem. Additionally, every helmet manufacturer must maintain a fully equipped, in-house BIS-approved testing laboratory to ensure consistent compliance with national safety standards. Children's safety features prominently in the plan, with the introduction of lightweight, child-specific helmets and safety harnesses to protect young pillion passengers. This initiative is grounded in international best practices, recommending maximum helmet weights tailored to different age groups, from 0.72 kg for one-year-olds to 1.17 kg for six-year-olds, ensuring comfort and protection. The mission also emphasizes the need for a fourfold increase in helmet manufacturing capacity to meet the projected annual demand of over 130 million BIS-certified helmets. This expansion, requiring ₹6,000 crore in investments and a workforce of 80,000, underscores the scale of transformation needed to achieve universal compliance. Currently, helmets attract an 18% GST, categorizing them as non-essential items. The mission advocates for reducing GST to 12% and reclassifying helmets as essential, life-saving equipment, making them more affordable, especially for price-sensitive buyers. The plan further mandates that all two-wheeler manufacturers supply one BIS certified helmet immediately and two BIS-certified helmets--one for the rider and one for the pillion--effective January 2027, ensuring that buyers receive certified safety gear at the point of sale. With a robust monitoring system--annual audits by the National Crime Records Bureau and the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways, digital dashboards, and frequent usage surveys--Mission Save Lives 2.0 India aims to ensure data-driven policy adjustments and transparent tracking of progress towards the 50% fatality reduction goal by 2031. "We owe it to every two-wheeler rider and their families to create safer roads," Mr. Kapur concluded. "A real helmet takes just seconds to wear but can save a lifetime." With decisive leadership, industry collaboration, and community participation, Mission Save Lives 2.0 India represents a transformative step towards safer roads across the nation.
Time of India
a day ago
- Automotive
- Time of India
Rs 110 Helmets, 95% fake! How Steelbird's new mission aims to save 38k lives annually
ow Steelbird's new mission aims to save 38k lives annually. In a bid to tackle one of India's deadliest public safety threats, Steelbird Helmets has launched ' Mission Save Lives 2.0 India ', led by MD Rajeev Kapur . The initiative was unveiled during the National Summit on Vulnerable Road Users (VRUs) and Road Safety. India reported nearly 1.72 lakh road deaths and 4.63 lakh injuries in 2023. Shockingly, two-wheeler riders and pedestrians made up 65% of the total fatalities. Around 77,000 of those who died were on two-wheelers, and 54,000 deaths were linked directly to not wearing helmets. The new mission aims to change that by focusing on one critical area: real, certified helmets. India two-wheeler fatalities: Challenges and road ahead As per the company's presentation, 95% of BIS license holders are flooding the market with helmets that falsely carry the ISI mark but don't meet safety standards. Many of these are sold for as little as Rs 110, making them accessible but highly unsafe. 'Every day, India loses lives that could be saved by simply wearing a real BIS-certified helmet,' said Kapur. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo 'Mission Save Lives 2.0 India' aims to save 38,000 lives annually by replacing fake helmets with certified ones. The plan includes phasing in helmet compliance starting with Tier 1 cities in 2028, followed by Tier 2 in 2029, and Tier 3 and rural areas by 2031. To support this, the mission proposes quadrupling helmet manufacturing capacity and creating 80,000 jobs, backed by Rs 6,000 crore in investment. Simple One review: Is this the EV to beat? | TOI Auto Monitoring and enforcement will be powered by digital dashboards, audits by national bodies, and regular helmet usage surveys to keep the mission on track toward halving road fatalities by 2031. The initiative also highlights the urgent need to crack down on counterfeit products. It proposes real-time verification of BIS licenses, periodic audits, targeted raids, and mandatory BIS-approved in-house testing labs for all helmet makers. Children's safety is also a key focus. The plan introduces lightweight, size-appropriate helmets for kids and mandates safety harnesses for young pillion riders.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Time of India
Steelbird Helmets' Mission Save Lives 2.0 aims to cut road deaths by 50% by 2031
A new national road safety initiative , Mission Save Lives 2.0 India, was launched by Steelbird Helmets Managing Director Rajeev Kapur at the National Summit on Vulnerable Road Users (VRUs) and Road Safety. The summit, focused on aligning Indian road safety measures with the Marrakech Declaration, included participation from government representatives, researchers, and safety advocates. The initiative aims to prevent 38,000 deaths annually through increased helmet usage, reforms in safety standards, and targeted enforcement. India recorded approximately 1.72 lakh road fatalities in 2023, with two-wheeler riders and pedestrians comprising 65 per cent of the total. Focus on certified helmets and counterfeit crackdown Kapur said, 'Every day, India loses lives that could be saved by simply wearing a real BIS-certified helmet. Mission Save Lives 2.0 India is a national commitment to make these helmets accessible, affordable, and mandatory for every rider and pillion passenger, including children.' The plan will be implemented in phases—starting with Tier 1 cities in 2028, followed by Tier 2 cities in 2029, and reaching rural regions by January 2031. A key component is the elimination of counterfeit helmets, with the initiative citing that 95 per cent of BIS licence holders currently sell substandard products falsely bearing the ISI mark. To counter this, the mission calls for real-time verification, periodic audits, legal action against fake manufacturers, and in-house BIS-approved testing labs at every certified helmet factory. Manufacturing capacity, child safety and policy changes To meet projected demand for over 130 million certified helmets annually, the plan includes a fourfold increase in production capacity, requiring an investment of ₹6,000 crore and employment for 80,000 workers. Children's safety has been highlighted through proposed lightweight, age-specific helmets, with weight limits from 0.72 kg to 1.17 kg based on age. The mission also seeks to make helmets more affordable by reducing GST from 18 per cent to 12 per cent and classifying them as essential safety equipment. It further mandates that two-wheeler manufacturers provide one BIS-certified helmet immediately, and two helmets per vehicle from January 2027. The initiative also proposes digital monitoring, annual audits by the National Crime Records Bureau and the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways, and regular helmet usage surveys to inform policy changes.
