In a major push to enhance road safety worldwide, UN-WHO have invited Managing Director Steelbird Helmets, Rajeev Kapur as the Helmet Expert, who has unveiled Mission Save Lives -a 13-point roadmap supporting UN’s Decade of Action for Road Safety (2021-2030) aimed at cutting global road injuries by 50% by 2030 at 4th Ministerial Conference on Road Safety in Morocco,As the only Helmet Manufacturer across the Globe Mr. Kapur laid out a comprehensive strategy focusing on stricter helmet regulations, better testing infrastructure, and increased affordability of certified helmets, particularly in developing nations.During a high-impact fireside chat featuring helmet manufacturers, policymakers, and industry leaders, Mr. Kapur urged a unified global approach to curb rising road fatalities. He emphasized the urgent need to combat counterfeit and substandardhelmets, which fail to offer real protection, by making it mandatory for manufacturers to provide two certified helmets with every new motorcycle purchase. A major highlight of his plan was the demand for the UN and WHO to set up helmet testing laboratories in every country, ensuring that safety standards align with DOT, ECE 22.06, and ISI certifications. To tackle the production of inferior helmets, Mr. Kapur proposed an international blacklist of non-compliant manufacturers and universal helmet safety standards to streamline production and lower costs. Currently, country-specific regulations force manufacturers to produce multiple variants, driving up costs and limiting consumer choices. Among the key policy recommendations, Mr. Kapur called for waiving import duties in countries where local helmet manufacturing is not feasible. He pointed out that high taxes push riders towards unsafe, substandard helmets, while road accidents cost nations more than 3% of their GDP annually. To further boost compliance, he proposed a “No Helmet, No Fuel” policy, but only after ensuring certified helmets are affordable and widely available. He also suggested equipping two-wheelers with helmet sensors, similar to seatbelt alarms in cars, which would beep until both the rider and pillion wear certified helmets. Focusing on the alarming number of unsafe helmets among taxi and delivery riders, Mr. Kapur urged platforms of Two Wheeler Taxis and delivery companies to enforced standardised Helmets for their riders. He also called for independent safety tests for helmets provided to delivery personnel. To further enhance road safety, Mr. Kapur proposed real-time traceability systems for helmet components, allowing manufacturers to quickly recall defective parts without unnecessary mass recalls. He stressed that only manufacturers with in-house testing labs should be allowed to produce helmets, ensuring rigorous safety checks before they hit the market. Additionally, Mr. Kapur recommended government-backed subsidies for helmet manufacturers to produce high-quality, affordable helmets on a larger scale. With 1.2 million deaths annually due to road accidents, making it the leading cause of death among youth, the Morocco summit serves as a crucial checkpoint in the UN’s Decade of Action for Road Safety (2021-2030).Steelbird Helmets being the largest Helmet producers in the word, set to produce 9 million helmets this year and 25 million by 2032, remains committed to revolutionizing helmet safety and accessibility, further strengthening the global effort to meet the UN’s 2030 road safety targets.
