$10 Helmet Unveiled at Mexico City Grand Prix
The Mexico City Grand Prix took place on November 7, 2021. On Thursday, before the event, representatives from the FIA, the Asociación Nacional de Automovilistas of Mexico (ANA), Formula One, and the Mexican Red Cross, along with various corporate partners, convened in promotion of a motorcycle helmet that is designed to radically change worldwide road safety worldwide. The helmet has a wholesale sticker price of only $10.00. Can thousands of lives be saved by a $10 helmet?
What is the FIA?
FIA stands for Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile. It is the governing body for international motorsports. Additionally, the organization is a global advocate for public road safety. The FIA states that more than 300 million motorbikes – including motorcycles, scooters, and mopeds being ridden on roads worldwide.
The Challenge: Design a $10 Helmet to Save Lives
According to statistics from the United Nations, there were nearly 3.4 million motorcycle crash fatalities between 2008 and 2020. Up to 1.4 million of those lost lives may have been saved by using a safety helmet.
With those lost lives in mind, the president of the FIA challenged the agency’s Safety Department to develop a design for a safe motorcycle helmet with a price of ten dollars (wholesale). The helmet was required to meet the United Nation’s helmet regulation 22.05 and be comfortably worn in tropical regions. The climate consideration was because eighty percent of the 300 million motorbikes on the road are located in Asia. The goal of the affordable helmet was to be of use in that continent’s most densely populated regions. The FIA Safety Department met the challenge and successfully designed such a helmet.
Rollout Delayed Due to Pandemic
The consumer rollout of the affordable helmet has been delayed due to conditions related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The FIA continues to form partnerships with manufacturers to produce the original FIA design or create similar proprietary designs. The agency is also setting up events nationally and regionally to launch the helmet. The Mexico City Grand Prix presentation was one such event. Formula One drivers presented the helmets in colors that matched their team colors. Over 2500 helmets were donated to Mexico by the Keep Fighting Foundation (the famous F1 Schumacher family). The donated helmets will be distributed by the ANA.
Will the $10 Helmet Catch On?
Whether manufacturers will begin mass-producing the inexpensive helmets for sale worldwide is yet to be seen. The success of the new safety product depends on manufacturers’ willingness to do so and whether they will be widely adopted by motorbike users across the newly developed and developing world.
The importance of a proper safety helmet for motorcyclists cannot be understated. The protection they provide is worth the money spent. However, if a $10 helmet can protect riders who do not wear head protection, we hope they sell out across the globe.
Watch the YouTube video. While none of the featured products are as inexpensive as the one recently designed by the FIA, the clip below showcases eight of the best motorcycle helmets that sell for less than $200.
Marysville Motorcycle Accident Attorneys
Thanks for reading our report on the FIA $10 helmet. I’m Ed Smith, a Marysville Motorcycle Accident Attorney. Our firm has expertly handled cases for riders that have suffered severe injuries caused by the negligence of another motorist. Our injury lawyers have decades of experience and are happy to offer free and friendly advice if you have questions following a crash. Call us at (530) 392-9400 or (800) 404-5400.
We know it can be daunting to search for legal representation you can trust. The links below will take you to reviews from our prior clients and past case results.
Avvo
Google
Yelp
Verdicts & Settlements
Photo by Ryan Quantal via Unsplash
mm llo [cs 682]