Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari has directed that every two-wheeler sold in India must be accompanied by two ISI-certified helmets. The announcement came during the Auto Summit held in New Delhi and received immediate support from the Two-Wheeler Helmet Manufacturers Association of India (THMA), the key representative body of ISI-approved helmet producers.
This directive addresses a long-standing concern in Indian road safety policy. With over 4.8 lakh road accidents and 1.88 lakh fatalities reported annually in the country, two-wheelers continue to represent a disproportionately high share of casualties. Of the total deaths, more than 69,000 fatalities each year are linked to two-wheeler incidents and nearly half of those are attributed to the non-use of helmets.
Rajeev Kapur, President, Helmet Manufacturers Association, remarked that this mandate has the potential to reduce needless deaths and injuries, especially among young people who make up the majority of the victims in road accidents.
The association has long advocated for compulsory helmet use and stressed that providing two helmets—one for the rider and one for the pillion—is a critical step in promoting responsible driving habits. It also confirmed that manufacturers are ready to scale up production and distribution to ensure that high-quality ISI-certified helmets are readily available across the country.
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