Sachin Tendulkar –Indian batting great and a Member of Parliament, has requested the Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari to take action against the fake helmet manufacturers in a bid to reduce the high rate of two-wheeler accidents.

Continuing his campaign for safe two-wheeler riding, Tendulkar believes that the original high-quality materials need to be used in making helmets.

He also urges the Ministers to take action against the helmet manufacturers, who have been using low-grade material and selling it with a fake ISI mark.

As per PTI, Tendulkar wrote in his letter, “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. The same original high-quality standards need to be maintained when it comes to helmets that will be used by two-wheeler riders in India.”

The 44-year-old, who is an active campaigner of road safety, has been usually seen urging people to use helmets, during traffic signal halts, in social media posts. Citing media reports, Tendulkar said that more than 70% of bike riders in India buy fake helmets.

He continued, “This is an absolutely 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 signed off, “I understand that the ministry has been actively working on public safety measures. I would strongly urge your ministry to take strong action against manufacturers of helmets that are putting lives of people at risk by using fake ISI marks on low grade, low-quality helmets that will not protect head injuries in an accident.”