New Delhi, July 5 (Reporter) In a move aimed to curb the sale of substandard helmets and enhance road safety, the Department of Consumer Affairs, in coordination with the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), has seized over 3,000 non-compliant helmets from manufacturers and retailers across the country. The action, part of a nationwide crackdown on helmet manufacturers operating without valid BIS licences, saw enforcement teams confiscate more than 2,500 helmets from nine manufacturers whose licences had either expired or been cancelled. Additionally, around 500 substandard helmets were seized from roadside vendors and retail outlets at 17 different locations, the Department said in a statement issued on Friday. India, which has over 21 crore two-wheelers on its roads, witnesses a disproportionately high number of road accidents involving two-wheeler riders. Data from previous years indicate that nearly 45% of road accident fatalities involve two-wheeler users, with a significant portion attributed to the absence or poor quality of helmets. Calling attention to this issue, the Department has urged consumers to wear only BIS-certified helmets and called for strict enforcement against the manufacture and sale of uncertified products. "Sub-standard helmets compromise safety and defeat the purpose of protection. Quality control is critical to saving lives on roads," the statement said. Under the Quality Control Order in force since 2021, helmets for two-wheeler riders must bear the ISI mark and be certified in accordance with BIS standards. As of June 2025, 176 manufacturers across the country hold valid BIS licences for protective helmets. The BIS, tasked with enforcing compliance, has been conducting regular factory and market surveillance. In the last financial year alone, more than 500 helmet samples were tested, and over 30 search-and-seizure operations were undertaken against entities misusing the BIS Standard Mark. Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari, last year noted that nearly 30,000 annual deaths among two-wheeler users could be attributed to not wearing helmets. He underlined the urgency of stricter compliance and behavioural change among riders. The BIS has also introduced features on its BIS Care App and online portal, enabling users to verify the certification status of helmet manufacturers and lodge complaints against non-compliant products,” said the statement. Dr Rajendra Prasad, senior Neuro and Spine Surgeon and director of Indian Head Injury Foundation (IIHF), Delhi said that the government should also focus on safe protective gears for children as at least 30 kids die every day in road accidents across the country. “A majority of such children can be saved had their parents or caretakers made them wear good quality helmets while pillion. Remember, an injury to the brain can alter their kids' life forever,” warned the doctor...////...