CRASH helmets are the one thing that could save motorbike riders from serious or even fatal head injuries.
Yet, more than 5,400 were booked for helmet-related offences on the roads last year, 1,200 more than the year before.
These offences include using helmets with visors tinted too dark, wearing helmets with straps undone, or not wearing them at all.
The 5,400 figure works out to 15 summonses issued daily for these offences.
About 2,500 riders have been caught in the first half of this year, which sets up this year's annual total to fall by about 400 cases.
Helmet safety came into the spotlight last month, when the helmet worn by a 25-year-old pillion rider broke into two in an accident on the Pan-Island Expressway. The woman was wearing a helmet that apparently met safety standards, but it failed to save her. She died at the scene.
Mr Tony Yeo, the general secretary of the Singapore Motor Cycle Trade Association and an experienced rider, said it was rare to hear of helmets breaking in accidents.
A police spokesman said all helmets imported and sold here would have undergone batch testing to check that they meet prescribed standards. Only when these are met are labels of approval affixed to the helmets in the consignment.
The testing is done by TUV SUD PSB, formerly known as PSB Corporation.
Visors on the helmets are also tested to ensure they let in at least 70 per cent of light.
This is because over-tinted visors can compromise riders' night-time vision.
Mr Yeo said some degree of tint is important to reduce day-time glare, otherwise "it will be like someone is shining a bright light at you. You'll tend to close your eyes, which is more dangerous".
Despite the rules governing the use of helmets and visors, riders know how often these are flouted.
Based on a poll among 127 respondents on the Singapore Bikes Forums, 69per cent said they would use "non-PSB-approved helmets".
Another 19 per cent said they would not, while the rest were unsure.
A 20-year-old scooter rider said he wore an unapproved half-helmet, which leaves the lower half of the back of his head uncovered, "because it looked nicer". He said he had friends who used helmets with tinted visors that he was sure would fail inspections.
"I tried wearing one at night once and I couldn't see anything at all," said the student.
Bikers say heavily tinted visors and unapproved helmets can be brought in from Malaysia or bought here.
When contacted, a retailer here said most of the helmets it sold were approved. Those that were not were intended for sale to foreigners from Malaysia or Indonesia. "But if Singapore riders think the helmet is very special and want to buy it, we cannot stop them," he said.
A TUV SUD PSB spokesman said it is an offence for suppliers to sell unapproved helmets.
Motorcyclists and pillion riders who use modified or unapproved helmets may be fined a composition amount of $50; those who go without headgear or wear it insecurely may be fined $120 and given up to three demerit points.
Fifty-five motorcyclists and pillion riders were killed in the first half of this year, 20 per cent more than the 46 in the same period last year. Riders form the bulk of all road fatalities.
