SUBSTANDARD HELMETS – APPLICABLE PENALTIES IN 2018
According to statistics by the Ministry of Health of Vietnam, 16% of concussion cases involved in traffic crashes are directly attributable to nonstandard helmets. The rate is indeed staggering, because it directly affects our physical safety. Let’s join Protec in taking a glimpse at dangers posed by these helmets, as well as applicable penalties for substandard helmets.
Threats of substandard helmets
All across national highways and in particular on downtown streets in major cities are now a lot of nonstandard helmets publicly on sale. These helmets are piled upon pavements and vendor carts or in individual shops for sale at the price just half or even one third that of quality helmets.
The look and colors of these nonstandard helmets are usually quite eye catching and graphically varying, also fairly stylish. However, when it comes to materials and bearing capacity in case of a traffic crash, these helmets are easily crunched to bits when crashed and the safety they should bring to their wearers is zero.
Substandard helmets
In addition, substandard helmets are mainly manufactured of the main material of recycled plastic. The plastic is on its own substandard, quite brittle and easily deformed or decaying at high temperature. Putting on these helmets guarantees no safety for your brains and hides hidden risks of facial injuries or brain traumas in case of an unfortunately crash as the shell crumbles into sharp and spiked plastic fractures.
Regulations on penalties for substandard helmets
Nowadays, the traffic law just features penalty regulations for individuals without wearing helmets or wearing without fastening the chin strap. For those who put on substandard helmets, the police just give warnings rather than fine them.
Pursuant to Decree 87/2016/ND-CP by the Government, competent authorities were to deal with substandard helmets produced by individuals or business units. The fines would be based on the scale and severity of infringements.
How to identify substandard helmets
You can identify and protec yourself from substandard helmets based on these following criteria:
Materials of the shell: Quality helmets are supposed to have the shell made of hi-end plastic such as polyvinyl carbonate (PVC) or ABS plastic. Substandard helmets are made of composite plastic of inerior quality, which is brittle, crunch and easily deformed at high temperature.
Appearance: Quality helmets must be accredited with regulatory CR stamp and other labels that feature full information of their size, material, place of origin, business certificate and accompanying notes…In contrast, substandard helmets have no stamps, or just fake ones, while their labels are also vague and contain much inappropriate information.
The EPS liner: substandard helmets have soft thin liner without elasticity and capability of absorbing impact in case of crashes. Quality helmets are always equipped with elastic liner with good bearing capacity.
Visor an windshield: quality helmets have good visors and windshields that are not easily blurred or scratched to screen raindrops and winds. Windshields of fake helmets are brittle and easily broken in short time.
Distribution network: Quality helmets are frequently sold in department stores or big showrooms with clear addresses as directly related to production workshops. Inferior helmets are sold in unknown vendors or market stands.
Price: Quality helmets charge at hundreds of thousands to millions of dongs. Substandard ones charge at just tens of thousands of dongs.
Above are some facts about the threats as well as penalty regulations on substandard helmets. In Vietnam, many people still use substandard helmets as a tool to deal with traffic police, and are thus not fully aware of the importance of a quality helmet. Their thought proves extremely detrimental. Let’s pick a quality helmet for the sake of your own health and future.