[nairrk]

Move to bring down number of accidents in State

In a bid to encourage motorcyclists to wear helmets and curb the number of accidents in the State, ISI-approved helmets are to be given free of cost to owners of two-wheelers at the time of delivery of vehicles from April 1.

Besides the helmet, front and rear number plate for displaying registration number, rear-view mirror, saree guard, crash guard and handle grip for pillion riders will be provided free of cost by vehicle manufacturers to owners.

A decision to this effect was taken at a meeting of motorcycle manufacturers convened by State Transport and Road Safety Commissioner Tomin J. Thachankary in the capital on Tuesday.

The vehicle manufacturers have been told not to charge two-wheeler owners for the accessories.

The Motor Vehicles Department had received complaints that the dealers were taking money even for providing number plates to the vehicles. The manufacturers have been told that their authority for sale in the State will be cancelled if the accessories were not provided free of cost.

The Transport Commissioner said the decision to provide ISI-approved helmets was taken in view of mounting fatalities involving two-wheeler riders in the State. Two-wheelers continue to trouble the police and the MVD with 20,434 accidents taking place last year.

The highest number of 3,762 accidents involving motorcyclists took place in the capital in 2015, according to the State Crime Records Bureau’s road accident statistics.

The vehicle manufacturers have been told that they cannot insist on motorcycle owners choosing a particular insurance firm.

The registered owners have the right to select the firm.

The MVD has also asked manufacturers to find a solution to deactivate Bluetooth facility on mobile phone while the motorcyclist possessing it is driving the vehicle.

Source: http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/...ece?ref=tpnews

[ghodlur]

Originally Posted by nairrk

Besides the helmet, front and rear number plate for displaying registration number, rear-view mirror, saree guard, crash guard and handle grip for pillion riders will be provided free of cost by vehicle manufacturers to owners.

Although a good move, but the dealers are not going to give them away free, The cost would be definitely added to the 2 wheeler cost OR they would back charge it to the manufacturer (dealer margin) who would then increase the ex showroom cost of the 2 wheeler.

The vehicle manufacturers have been told not to charge two-wheeler owners for the accessories

This IMO is a wrong move. The choice of accessories depends on the customer and ideally should pay for it. Forcing the dealer to give away accessories for free is a knee jerk reaction.

[sukiwa]

Although a good move from safety aspect, but not the best in terms of quality of these accessories provided to customers. Not debating quality of ISI approved helmets, but dealers will definitely cut corners for other accessories e.g. handle grips, crash guard.
And for those who already own better quality helmets will not use these dealer provided helmets or these helmets will reach secondary market. Most of SBK look ugly with mandatory saree guards anyways and we know where those land up.

[EPMV]

Originally Posted by nairrk

Move to bring down number of accidents in State

In a bid to encourage motorcyclists to wear helmets and curb the number of accidents in the State, ISI-approved helmets are to be given free of cost to owners of two-wheelers at the time of delivery of vehicles from April 1.

Point 1: Good to know that Kerala is standing in first row for acting against road safety and trying to give the mandatory safety items for free. First of all its good move, appreciated.

Originally Posted by nairrk

The vehicle manufacturers have been told not to charge two-wheeler owners for the accessories.

Point 2: No way we can control this effectively. Everyone knows about how dealers will handle this. They have OTR price, cheapest accessory options, etc available with them to manage. No cheapest parts is better than no parts, atleast we have an option to buy good quality one.

Originally Posted by nairrk

The vehicle manufacturers have been told that they cannot insist on motorcycle owners choosing a particular insurance firm.

Point 3: I don't think this is a big problem now a days IMO. Unlike car insurance, normal commuter bike insurance costs are not that costly and I don't think they are making more money out of this. Easily we can opt for the insurance of our choice.

Originally Posted by nairrk

The MVD has also asked manufacturers to find a solution to deactivate Bluetooth facility on mobile phone while the motorcyclist possessing it is driving the vehicle.

Let alone bluetooth, I will prefer to build a short range mobile signal jammer in every bike. Else our DIY gurus will know how to deactivate the "bluetooth deactivate" device.

[libranof1987]

This is commendable; the authorities are putting this on paper to make sure neither the dealer nor buyer get to make a choice whether or not to wear helmet.

Sure, this isn't the perfect solution but it's a start. And a good one.

Originally Posted by ghodlur

Although a good move, but the dealers are not going to give them away free, The cost would be definitely added to the 2 wheeler cost OR they would back charge it to the manufacturer (dealer margin) who would then increase the ex showroom cost of the 2 wheeler.

Even then; it at least makes sure the buyer gets a helmet. If it was a separate purchase, most people would procrastinate. And eventually, never buy one. Every road in India is ample proof for how many people ride without helmets.

Of course there isn't a free lunch; but this way, the Govt. gets to implement the rule.

Originally Posted by ghodlur

This IMO is a wrong move. The choice of accessories depends on the customer and ideally should pay for it. Forcing the dealer to give away accessories for free is a knee jerk reaction.

Again, the no. of people who actually research the brand, quality, specs of a helmet are realistically minuscule. Most people just stop by the road at the fly-by-night helmet stall and pick up the cheapest helmet, regardless of how useful it is.

We have to get started somewhere!

[itwasntme]

A good move when seen holistically.

Brings to mind my personal experience with a similar matter:

When we took our new-born child home from his Birmingham UK hospital, we were specifically told (well in advance) to ensure that a BSI-approved rear facing car seat was properly fitted to the back seat of our car. Else the hospital would legally refuse to discharge the infant. We duly bought the best-rated BSI seat we could find :-) from Mothercare.

On the other hand I know of (Indian) colleagues who borrowed someone's infant seat for the same purpose and NEVER bought a car seat during their roughly 2 year stint in the UK. They knowingly broke the law throughout. Mind you, these are highly educated with multiple qualifications and at least 5-10 years experienced people with blue chip organizations!

You can bring a horse to the water but you cannot force it to drink. At least here, the state government is forcing the issue.

[GTO]

Great move. Once again, Kerala shows why it's the most literate state in India.

Originally Posted by ghodlur

Although a good move, but the dealers are not going to give them away free, The cost would be definitely added to the 2 wheeler cost OR they would back charge it to the manufacturer (dealer margin) who would then increase the ex showroom cost of the 2 wheeler.

Seriously man! Stop with the negativity. Obviously, indirectly, the customer has to pay for the helmet, just like car owners pay for the mandatory seatbelts! Are we going to whine & cry when the government makes ABS, Airbags & ESP compulsory?

This IMO is a wrong move. The choice of accessories depends on the customer and ideally should pay for it.

If someone wants better quality accessories, I'm pretty certain he can pay extra & trade up to them. Considering dealer margins are fatter on higher priced accessories, it makes business sense too.

[pedrolourenco]

A very good move. However the helmet would probably be a very basic one. The people should be given an option to pass the offer if they can show that they have already bought a superior helmet.

[ksameer1234]

Originally Posted by pedrolourenco

The people should be given an option to pass the offer if they can show that they have already bought a superior helmet.

I would rather not want this bypassing of rule to be allowed. Phones are sold with earphones and battery chargers by default and people often end up using accessories from previous phones while new accessories are not used. Same should be the case with helmets.

One may not use that basic free helmet due to a superior helmet brought earlier but this will create just that added incentive for pillions to use the basic, free helmet.

The cost of basic helmet is actually fractional compared to cost of vehicle.

[ghodlur]

Originally Posted by GTO

Seriously man! Stop with the negativity. Obviously, indirectly, the customer has to pay for the helmet, just like car owners pay for the mandatory seatbelts! Are we going to whine & cry when the government makes ABS, Airbags & ESP compulsory?

Sorry to say Rush but there is no negativity. We do crib always about the high price difference between the variants which offer safety measures and ones which don't. As a customer we want the highest safety features available in the vehicle we want to buy but end up buying a more VFM variant which offers least safety measures with the assurances that at least there is something than nothing.

My only grouse is whether the dealers would offers ISI approved helmets along with the 2 wheeler or would they end up thrusting a low quality helmet down the customer's throat. Similarly saree guard is a must accessory, will this be offered as free to the 2 wheeler buyer? I don't think so. Somewhere down the line when the customer is forced to buy accessories from the dealer, he should be given an option to buy it from outside as well.

However I do congratulate Kerala govt for taking a lead in this regards, at least there is some awareness in the govt regarding the issue. Hope other states too take a cue from this.

[mithun]

Last month, when I was on a two wheeler showroom for a delivery, they were accepting a signature on a white paper from the customer stating that "I don't need a helmet, I'm already having one" and giving a receipt in return!

[glenmz]

Originally Posted by nairrk

Besides the helmet, front and rear number plate for displaying registration number, rear-view mirror, saree guard, crash guard and handle grip for pillion riders will be provided free of cost by vehicle manufacturers to owners.

Wondering if the Superbikes (Harleys, et al) will follow suit? The crash guard for such bikes costs anything about Rs 20,000

[sgiitk]

@ghodlur; has hit the nail on the head. There is no free lunch. Also, the bundled helmet will be a low end one. However, if this persuades more people to use the helmet, I still support it.

[a4anurag]

Rajasthan dealers to stop two-wheeler sales from Saturday

"We are writing to minister informing him about the decision to stop sales of two-wheeler across state from tomorrow till either the decision is revised. We want either the government to take back the decision or the manufacturer provide us with helmets," Sai Gridhar, Secretary, Authorised Motor Vehicle Dealer Association

The association will also move the High Court on the subject. "It is totally unfair; if we provide two helmet with each bike, our entire margin will go," said Ninkuj Sanghi, a Hero MotoCorp dealer in Alwar district of Rajasthan.

"We may revise the decision of providing it "free", but dealers will have to provide two helmets whether they get it from manufacturer or add to the cost. This is matter of safety and cannot be compromised," Yunus Khan, state transport minister told ET.

SOURCE: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/...w/51950597.cms