The 25th National Workshop on Road Safety & Best Practices, jointly hosted by the All India Federation of Motor Vehicle Department Technical Executive Officers Association and the Transport Regional Inspectors Service Association, concluded with a powerful call for systemic reforms to reduce road fatalities.
Delivering the inaugural address, Uttar Pradesh Transport Minister Dayashankar Singh highlighted the State’s proactive approach. “Despite limited resources, Uttar Pradesh is taking significant steps in improving road safety. From focusing on vehicle fitness to educating children, we are committed to making our roads safer,” he said.
Transport Commissioner Brijesh Narayan Singh reinforced the human aspect of the issue, stating that road safety is “not just about numbers but about protecting every life.” He underlined the State’s goal to halve road accident fatalities as part of the Uttar Pradesh Government’s 'Vision 2030 Roadmap,' built on four pillars: education, engineering, enforcement, and emergency response.
A major highlight of the workshop was the presentation by Rajeev Kapur, MD of Steelbird Helmets and President of the 2-Wheeler Helmet Manufacturers Association. Speaking on the company’s ‘Mission Save Lives 2.0’ campaign—launched in collaboration with the UN and WHO—Kapur emphasised the dire need for action. “India faces a severe helmet crisis—50% of helmets in the market are counterfeit. Non-usage of helmets led to nearly 54,000 deaths in 2023 alone. We aim to reduce road fatalities by 50% by 2031 through the widespread use of BIS-certified helmets,” he said.
He called for stricter enforcement against red-light jumping, drunk driving, and speeding, while outlining a comprehensive nationwide roadmap for helmet compliance. This includes phased implementation starting with Tier 1 cities in 2028, followed by Tier 2 in 2029, and rural areas by 2031. A fourfold increase in helmet production—requiring INR 6,000 crore in investments, 2 crore sq. ft. of manufacturing space, and 80,000 workers—is also deemed critical.
To support this, the mission advocates a reduction in GST on helmets from 18% to 12%, reclassifying them as essential, life-saving gear. Another key proposal is to make it mandatory for all two-wheeler OEMs to supply one BIS-certified helmet by default, and two helmets—one each for rider and pillion—starting January 2027.
‘Mission Save Lives 2.0’ also urges real-time verification of BIS license holders, periodic audits, targeted raids, and strict legal action to dismantle the counterfeit helmet ecosystem. Manufacturers will be required to maintain BIS-approved testing labs in-house to ensure ongoing compliance.
India recorded 1.72 lakh road fatalities and 4.63 lakh injuries in 2023, with two-wheeler riders and pedestrians accounting for nearly 65% of deaths. The data underscores the urgency of such initiatives.
The workshop was attended by Regional and Motor Vehicle Inspectors from Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, and other states, who pledged support to the reform-driven roadmap.
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