Authorities have claimed they are determined to enforce the law on safe helmets on both sellers and wearers in an attempt to ensure traffic safety.

People wearing fake helmets will be fined

On February 27, Vice Chairman of the National Traffic Safety Committee Nguyen Hoang Hiep confirmed that they will strictly apply penalties to both shop owners and drivers from April 15.

Previously, four teams of the Market Control Department discovered 1,998 substandard helmets after their inspections of helmet shops in Dong Da, Hai Ba Trung, Cau Giay and Hoang Mai districts in Hanoi.

The shops not only sold low-quality helmets, but were unable to provide any invoices or business documents.

To prevent substandard helmets from proliferating, the National Traffic Safety Committee will tighten its control over the helmet business and wearing regulations.

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.

This programme will be piloted at big cities before implemented nationwide.

In 2012, a draft circular on manufacturing, importing, and trading helmets proposed that people use fake helmets will be fined VND100,000-200,000(USD4.75-9.5), equal to a fine for not using a helmet.