Latest news with #VRUs
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.
