Traffic police officers in Ahmedabad, India donning 'AC helmets'

Ahmedabad Traffic Police, in an innovative solution to tackle the intensity of the summer, has introduced special 'AC helmets' to officers on duty. A recently viral video in India shows constables wearing these AC helmets while controlling the traffic in the streets of Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India. 

According to a report by The Indian Express, six constables of the Ahmedabad Traffic Police were given these special helmets on a trial basis. The helmet operates using a battery that is carried at the waist and requires recharging approximately every eight hours. While it is constructed from plastic and serves the purpose of safeguarding the head, similar to a standard traffic police helmet, it does differ in weight, being 500 grams heavier than a typical helmet worn by traffic officers. 

The helmet's design is specifically engineered to draw in ambient air and direct it towards the face, effectively lowering both temperature and dust exposure. The helmet's ventilation system filters the incoming air, according to Karam Safety Private Limited, the manufacturing company that designed this helmet.

While conventional traffic helmets typically exhibit a slimmer profile, AC helmets boast a sturdier construction. Notably, these innovative helmets feature an additional fan-like structure on the front, which serves the purpose of facilitating the intake and outflow of air.

Divyarajsinh Rana, one of the traffic constables who have been using the AC helmet, told The Indian Express that the experience has been great thus far. He added that when a nearby dump yard releases dust and chemical gases, the built-in dust shield of the AC helmet keeps him safe. "Moreover, the fan inside keeps the sweat away and my energy intact," stated Rana.