Seven helmet producers in HCM City have pledged to keep their product prices unchanged in 2013 as a move to encourage people to use good-quality helmets.
Substandard helmet wearers to be fined from April 15
The producers showed their strong support for regulations in a newly- issued circular imposing fines on wearers of substandard helmets from April 15.
However, they said that the circular needed a longer road map of around six months to be implemented, so that they could prepare materials for the production to meet market demand. The longer time could also help them to join hands with agencies to help people to distinguish between substandard and high-quality products.
A media programme to raise people’s awareness will be carried out between March 15-April 15 and then the management agencies will start to fine substandard helmet wearers and shop owners from April 15.
This programme will be piloted at big cities before implemented nationwide.
However, Dao Vinh Thang, head of Hanoi’s Road and Railway Traffic Police Board said that sanctions for the fine had not yet been issued. Decree 34 and 71 only stipulated fines on drivers who do not wear a helmet or wore it in an incorrect way, it currently did not mention specific fines for wearing substandard crash helmets.
