Recycled to big brands, helmet sales pick up

Though, the Indian Motor Vehicles Act prescribes that the safety helmets worn by riders adhere to a minimum level of safety, but in the absence of the traffic police booking defaulters for wearing helmets other than those bearing the ISI mark, such helmets are available for anywhere between Rs 65 to Rs 275.

"Why go in for expensive stuff when all a helmet is meant to do is ward off traffic policemen,”remarks Sunil Kumar, who sells recycled and other non-expensive varieties of helmets, on the pavement in the Sector 21 scooter market.

"The largest variety and the widest price range, however, is available in branded safety helmets — Studds, Vega, Aerostar and Habsolite,” says Anil Sethi, partner in the authorised agency for Studds and Vega. While, Studds helmets from the full-face range cost from anywhere between Rs 550 to Rs 1,350, Vega products cost upto Rs 1,750. The entire range manufactured by the two companies adheres to ISI specifications. Interestingly, some manufacturers also offer a range for women, in smaller sizes and much lighter. The Court’s decision, feel shopkeepers, will push manufacturers to offer more products in this range.

"The discount that we offer on the marked price varies from 15 to 20 per cent due to heavy competition in the market. With helmets being made compulsory for every one, this discount might end, but only for a short while, because there is enough supply available,”says Sethi.

However, another shopkeeper who also stocks a variety of helmets points admits: "The discount offered by shopkeepers other than regular dealers even goes upto 50 per cent. We barely earn more than Rs 15 to Rs 50 per piece. But thanks to new rules at least for some days we’ll be making lots of money.”