Since 2020, the FIA, with the support of the FIA Foundation, has been working on the Safe and Affordable Helmet Programme to facilitate the deployment of motorcycle helmets that meet UN safety standards, that are comfortable in hot and humid climate and available at a target selling price of around 20 USD. The FIA Safety Department, which is normally tasked with developing safety equipment for competitions, used its expertise to achieve this objective. In markets where the population is largely dependent on two-wheel motorized transport, and where the hot climate and the high purchase price prevent many motorcyclists from wearing a helmet, the FIA Safe & Affordable Helmet Programme contributes to reducing motorcycle related fatalities. Research shows that helmet wearing is one of the most effective road safety interventions, reducing the number of head injuries among moped riders and motorcyclists by around 44%.
The objective of the programme is to distribute as many helmets as possible and request the support of governments and the private sector to achieve that.
Today, Kenya is positioning itself as the starting point for this ambitious initiative. On the occasion of the Safari Rally celebration, round 6 of the FIA World Championship, a special event took place today at noon at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre in Nairobi. This event has been held in the presence of His Excellency Hon. Uhuru Kenyatta, President of the Republic of Kenya, Jean Todt, FIA President and the United Nations Secretary General’s Special Envoy for Road Safety, Dr Amina Mohamed, Cabinet Secretary for Sports, Heritage and Culture of Kenya and László Palkovics, Minister for Innovation and Technology of Hungary.
Africa has the highest estimated road traffic fatality rate of 26.6 per 100,000. With a motorcycle fleet of 1.4 million vehicles and an estimated 12,463 road traffic-related deaths in 2018, Kenya has amongst the highest road traffic death rates in Africa. This initiative has the potential to reduce fatalities and injuries on Kenya’s roads.
To read more, click:https://www.fia.com/news/new-step-forward-kenya-fia-safe-affordable-helmet-programme