Legal Provisions for Helmet in India

It is mandatory to wear a protective headgear by every person above four years of age driving or being carried on a two-wheeler of any class. The headgear should be securely fastened to the head of the wearer by means of straps or other fastening provided on the headgear. (Section 129 of Motor Vehicles Act, 1988)

For children below four years, safety harness should be used for attaching the child to the driver of the two-wheeler. The child aged between 09 months and four years must wear his own crash helmet which fits his head or wear bicycle helmet. The speed of the two-wheeler with the child up to age four years being carried as a pillion should not be more than 40 km/hr. (Section 138 (7) of Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989)

At the time of purchase of two-wheeler, the manufacturer of the two-wheeler shall supply a protective headgear conforming to specifications prescribed by Bureau of Indian Standards. (Section 138(4)(f) of Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989)

Riding a two-wheeler or carrying pillion rider on a two-wheeler without wearing protective headgear attracts a penalty of Rs 1,000/-. (Section 194 D of Motor Vehicles Act, 1988)