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Head under wheels
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What riders need to know is that just wearing a helmet is not sufficient
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Remember the ad film, broadcast a couple of years ago, that urged two-wheeler riders to wear a helmet by showing a hammer coming down on a coconut? Sheer distress, imagining one's head being smashed like that! However, that particular ad campaign worked wonders in creating public awareness and made a poignant point to the callous Indian riders. According to a survey conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, USA, a motorcyclist is 21 times as likely to die or four times as likely to get injured in an accident, as compared to a car occupant. In India, considering we have a large number of two wheelers, the chances of injuries and deaths caused by two-wheelers are higher.
Section 129 of the Central Government's Motor Vehicle Act makes it mandatory for two-wheeler riders to wear protective helmets. While Delhi has been among the first Indian States to implement the rule stringently, it was actually imposed in Maharashtra following a High Court ruling to a public interest litigation in 2001. However, as confusion reigned among the Transport and Traffic Police Departments on the implementation of the rule, since the directive insisted on helmet for the pillion rider too, it took longer to actually be enforced. Added to that was the fact that the two-wheeler riders outnumbered the number of helmets then available in the market. The Traffic Police had to relax the clamp on errant pillion riders for then.
What riders need to know is that just wearing a helmet is not sufficient. The riders must be aware of the genuine and the spurious ones available in the market. In order to propagate a certain safety standard, the court has insisted on helmets that are certified by the Bureau of Indian Standards, better known as the ISI mark. This certification defines a set of rules for helmets in terms of criteria relating to the material, make, finish, weight and strength. What does that mean for imported helmets?
Venkatraman, GM of Forma Sports, which manufactures AGV helmets in India under licence from the Italian helmet giant, says, "The ISI is a benchmark that needs to be attained. Naturally, helmets like AGV have to meet European standards, which are more stringent. So, automatically they will comply to ISI levels as well."
So how are helmets made? Raw materials such as fibreglass are moulded to form the outer shell. These shells are extracted from the moulds and moved to cutting where holes for the visor, ventilations and chin strap are punched into the shell. This is followed by the primer, which is applied to the shell. The painted shells undergo quality control to remove any defective pieces. Decals or stickers are then applied which gives the helmet its final look. Helmet manufacturers insist it's a delicate and complicated process and not just putting on the sticker. This process is followed by fixing the chin strap, visor and base rubber gaskets. A fabric-lined styrofoam padding is then applied on the inside followed by a similarly fabric-lined foam padding. After the final check the helmet is ready to wear!
Foreign helmets have an extra layer of fibre cloth between the styrofoam padding and the fibreglass (in some cases Kevlar) shell. This is dipped in resin, which gives the helmet additional rigidity.
The first thing to remember while choosing a helmet is that everything is about the fit. Neither too tight nor too loose is the mantra. New helmets usually have fluffier cushioning, so don't forget to take into account its natural decompression after some use. The padding normally takes the shape of the head and face. If the helmet is too loose and the head and the helmet do not move in sync when turned it is not advisable to buy it. Basically, it should fit snugly with the chin strap adjustable to the right measure.
Also, ensure that there is enough front-to-back room and that the chin isn't pressing up against the inside of the chin bar. Try clenching your teeth — the helmet should provide enough room for you to keep your mouth closed without undue discomfort. Don't forget to check the fabric lining on the inside cushioning which should feel comfortable against the skin.
The internal helmet shell structure on poorly designed and comparatively cheaper helmets can have protrusions or shapes that press through the padding and into a sensitive area on your head and cause pain, rawness and headaches, so there should be no pressure points from these areas.
Also, take a closer look at the opening and closing mechanisms and opt for one that can be smoothly operated. Colours are a personal choice, but do remember that visibility in traffic is a vital safety issue to consider. A rider's motorcycle helmet is usually the highest point on the motorcycle, so a bright colour offering visibility in traffic makes it the best buy in terms of safety and visibility.
Just as it took a court ruling to enforce seatbelt buckling, similarly, helmets, considered cumbersome to be lugged around, didn't find too many takers in the beginning, however, the sheer nature of two-wheel transport and the hazards on our roads turned it into an absolute necessity. After all, a helmet may not make a cool fashion statement, but, then God forbid, a smashed face won't either.
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