Bikers wear fruit shells to avoid helmet law

[islamirama]

Bikers wear fruit shells to avoid helmet law

Mike Oboh - Jan 7, 2009

Police in Nigeria have arrested scores of motorcycle taxi riders with dried fruit shells, paint pots or pieces of rubber tire tied to their heads with string to avoid a new law requiring them to wear helmets.

The regulations have caused chaos around Africa's most populous nation, with motorcyclists complaining helmets are too expensive and some passengers refusing to wear them fearing they will catch skin disease or be put under a black magic spell.

Some bikers have used calabashes -- dried shells of pumpkin-sized fruit usually used as a bowl -- or pots and pans tied to their heads with string to try to dodge the rules.

Construction workers have set up a lucrative trade renting out their safety helmets for around 500 naira ($3.60) a day.

"They use pots, plates, calabashes, rubber and plastic as makeshift helmets," said Yusuf Garba, commander of the Federal Road Safety Commission in the northern town of Kano.

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE5063SU20090107​

Some people have done similar things in pakistan after its helmet law. Like this guy using a pot for helmet.

 

[Beardo]

It's only for their protection but I guess in a continent like Africa, it's a big issue. We don't realize that sitting in UK or US. There's a whole lot going on over there.

 

[aadil77]

poor guys can't afford proper helmets that can pass safety regulations, a tin pot is not going to protect the sides of your head in an accident

 

[ardianto]

poor guys can't afford proper helmets that can pass safety regulations,

Helmets with DOT or Snell safety standard are too expensive for poor bikers.

a tin pot is not going to protect the sides of your head in an accident

They know. They use tin pot or dried fruit shell is not for protect their heads but for avoid helmet law.

 

[CosmicPathos]

that pakistani guy meh ... subhanAllah ... I think he is being sarcastic How is that iron kettle going to protect his head? If he falls and his head hits the ground, that very fake helmet is going to shatter his cortex out

 

[جوري]

people who impose laws that cost money should try being poor (food for thought in the let 'em have cake crowd)-- or at least offer their new tariffs for free (if they actually cared for the well being of their private citizens) but from my experience they don't give a **** if people die a dime a dozen, so long as they make a buck..

 

[Beardo]

people who impose laws that cost money should try being poor (food for thought in the let 'em have cake crowd)-- or at least offer their new tariffs for free (if they actually cared for the well being of their private citizens) but from my experience they don't give a **** if people die a dime a dozen, so long as they make a buck..

I agree completely. It's almost like mockery against them. They refuse them their humanitarian rights yet impose these laws which are way beyond their capacity. Really, it's so sad that they can't even afford a helmet to begin with.

 

[Woodrow]

The logical thing would be to provide free helmets instead of wasting money trying to enforce laws the average person can not afford to comply with. Seems like a hidden way to make being poor a criminal act.