By The Punjab government’s intensified enforcement of motorcycle helmet rules in Rawalpindi has unexpectedly created a troubling public safety crisis. While the objective behind the crackdown is to improve road safety, the immediate outcome has been a chaotic surge in demand for helmets — a surge that opportunistic vendors have quickly exploited. According to reports from The Tribune, the market is now saturated with substandard, repainted, and refurbished helmets being sold at inflated prices, leaving genuine manufacturers overshadowed by illegal profiteers.
Prices Soar as Counterfeit Gear Dominates the Market
Following aggressive road raids and strict enforcement of traffic laws, helmet prices have skyrocketed. Helmets that should cost far less are now selling in the Rs1,200 to Rs5,000 range.
However, the real problem lies in the lower tier — Rs1,200 to Rs2,200 — where the bulk of sales come from old, repainted, cracked, or structurally compromised helmets. These helmets offer little to no real protection and often become unusable within weeks of purchase.
Shops in local markets such as Teli Mohalla have been reported purchasing broken helmet shells for as little as Rs50 to Rs100. These scraps are “refurbished” with cheap paint and padding, then sold to vendors for up to Rs1,000, who finally pass them on to customers at inflated prices. With riders desperate to avoid fines, these dangerous helmets are being sold at record volume.
Legal Experts Criticize Enforcement Approach
The strict implementation of the new traffic laws has sparked significant criticism.
Sardar Manzar Basheer, President of the District Bar Association, strongly condemned the hefty Rs2,000 fine, calling it unfair and counterproductive. According to Basheer, the enforcement penalizes citizens without ensuring their genuine safety.
He proposed a more practical and citizen-friendly approach: traffic authorities should provide an approved helmet on the spot for the cost of the fine. Riders would then only face penalties if they refuse to wear the provided safety gear. This, he argued, would ensure both compliance and actual protection.
A Rushed Policy That Compromises Safety
The current situation highlights a major policy oversight. While the intent to enforce helmet use is commendable, the lack of quality regulation, absence of certified suppliers, and no public awareness campaign have collectively resulted in a backwards outcome — riders are wearing helmets, but many are dangerously unsafe.
Rather than improving road safety, the crackdown has unintentionally pushed thousands of riders toward low-quality, counterfeit gear that offers little real protection in an accident.
