Sachin Tendulkar urges Transport Minister to take action against low-grade helmet manufacturers

Updated - 20 Mar 2018, 04:33 PM

Sachin Tendulkar urges Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari to take action after fake helmet manufacturers. (Photo by Satish Bate/Hindustan Times via Getty Images)

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Legendary cricketer and Rajya Sabha MP Sachin Tendulkar has sought action against manufacturers of low-quality helmets. Meanwhile, he wrote to transport minister Nitin Gadkari stating that the high rate of accidents involving two-wheeler drivers.

Tendulkar also noted that it is important that safety equipment for two-wheeler drivers is of the highest quality.

Tendulkar wrote a letter:

In a letter to Gadkari, Tendulkar sought action against the manufacturers using the low-quality material. He also admitted that manufacturers are using fake ISI marks to manufacture products.

“I am writing to you to request your ministry to consider action against helmet manufacturers using low-grade material and selling it with a fake ISI mark. As sportspersons, we understand the importance of using original high-quality safety equipment when we go to play on the field,” Tendulkar wrote.

Image result for tendulkar safe drive campaign — Credit: Web

Master Blaster also pointed it that high-quality material needs to be maintained when it comes to helmets. Meanwhile, Tendulkar is an active campaigner for road safety urging people to wear helmets.

Citing media reports, Tendulkar said that over 70 percent of bike riders in India end up buying fake helmets.

“This is an absolute alarming situation considering two-wheelers accounted for over 30 percent of road accidents, the highest among all kind of accidents in 2016. The availability of fake helmets is a danger to two-wheeler riders considering that wearing an appropriate helmet improves chances of survival of bikers by 42 percent,” Tendulkar said.

Meanwhile, Government of India is looking into the matter penalising non-ISI or fake ISI marked helmet manufacturers.

Sachin has also urged to lower the prices good quality helmets so that riders do not seek cheaper options. Further, he talked about launching large-scale awareness drives to educate people about the importance of using quality safety gear.

“I look forward to your prompt action and extend my full support to your office to promote safe two-wheeler riding among our citizens,” he concluded.