TVS Victor BMW
Men ride a TVS Victor (R) motorcycle through a road in the northeastern Indian city of Guwahati April 8, 2013. TVS Motor Co Ltd and BMW AG's motorcycle division announced a long-awaited cooperation agreement on Monday in a deal that see the companies jointly develop motorcycles as TVS looks to stem a slide in its market share.Reuters / Utpal Baruah

New two-wheeler buyers in Kerala will get ISI-marked helmets free of cost from April 1. The decision was taken in a meeting of motorcycle manufacturers and the Kerala Transport and Road Safety Commissioner, Tomin J. Thachankary in Thiruvananthapuram Tuesday, March 29.

Besides the helmet, manufacturers will also provide free of cost accessories such as number plates, rear-view mirrors, sari guard, crash guard and handle for pillion rider, reports The New Indian Express. These accessories are currently not sold as standard fitment and buyers have to spend extra money on them.

The decision has been taken in order to reduce the number of fatalities involving bike riders in the state. A total of 20,434 accidents involving two-wheelers were registered in the state last year, reports The Hindu. Transport commissioner also said failure on the manufacturer's part to provide the accessories as per the decision would lead to the cancellation of its sales licence. 

The meeting also directed manufacturers not to compel buyers to choose a particular insurance company at the time of purchase.

Other state governments have also taken similar decisions recently to encourage the use of helmets. The Karnataka Transport Department is in the process of ensuring that no new motorcycle is registered unless the owner produces receipts for two helmets purchased at the time of registration. Six district collectors in Raipur range of Chhattisgarh issued a notice Monday, March 28, to petrol pump owners to impose a 'no helmet, no petrol' rule, reported ET Auto.