Helmet-mounted cameras now an offence in this state: DL suspension for offence
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If you’re a motorcycle rider and have gone the distance for a good ride, chances are you’d have mounted a camera on your helmet at some point to record the trip. Nothing unique about it, nothing offensive, or so we thought. According to Kerala’s Motor Vehicle department, helmet-mounted cameras are now banned across the state. Flouting this new rule can land you a fine of Rs 1,000 or even suspension of your driving licence for three months.
The state had proposed a ban on such cameras last year as well stating that it distracts the riders. This year, the Kerala MVD has stated that mounting a camera on a helmet compromises its structural integrity causing it to perform sub-optimally in the event of a crash.
Is it a plausible reasoning?
While most action camera manufacturers state that cameras and mounts are designed to break in case of an impact, there are some concerns about them. The premier governing body for motorsports, the FIA (Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile) has banned helmet-mounted cameras on race tracks.
Investigation into F1 legend Michael Schumacher’s skiing accident in 2013 also blamed the action camera mounted on the helmet as a contributory factor for the severe head trauma he sustained.
Some external agencies have conducted tests indicating that helmet-mounted cameras actually absorb some of the impact during a crash. However, these studies are not officially accepted yet. All things to one side, they are definitely not good for aerodynamics, plus it adds to the weight. So, all in all, it is perhaps not the best idea to mount anything on the helmet.
Other ways
Riders the world over use action cameras to record their trip and also for safety in case of an incident on the road and the footage can serve as evidence. It isn’t just the helmet where these cameras are mounted. Action cameras can safely be mounted on the motorcycle, where it wouldn’t be illegal. There are also chest mounts that actually provide a better frame, it’d be best to avoid mounting anything additional on the rider and use the many different spots a bike offers to mount a camera.
The state had proposed a ban on such cameras last year as well stating that it distracts the riders. This year, the Kerala MVD has stated that mounting a camera on a helmet compromises its structural integrity causing it to perform sub-optimally in the event of a crash.
Is it a plausible reasoning?
While most action camera manufacturers state that cameras and mounts are designed to break in case of an impact, there are some concerns about them. The premier governing body for motorsports, the FIA (Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile) has banned helmet-mounted cameras on race tracks.
Investigation into F1 legend Michael Schumacher’s skiing accident in 2013 also blamed the action camera mounted on the helmet as a contributory factor for the severe head trauma he sustained.
Some external agencies have conducted tests indicating that helmet-mounted cameras actually absorb some of the impact during a crash. However, these studies are not officially accepted yet. All things to one side, they are definitely not good for aerodynamics, plus it adds to the weight. So, all in all, it is perhaps not the best idea to mount anything on the helmet.
Other ways
Riders the world over use action cameras to record their trip and also for safety in case of an incident on the road and the footage can serve as evidence. It isn’t just the helmet where these cameras are mounted. Action cameras can safely be mounted on the motorcycle, where it wouldn’t be illegal. There are also chest mounts that actually provide a better frame, it’d be best to avoid mounting anything additional on the rider and use the many different spots a bike offers to mount a camera.
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