Every year about 40 people die and about 30,000 are injured in bicycling accidents, and that’s just in Sweden. One in three bicyclists who are injured suffer head injuries. The most effective protection against serious injuries to the skull is to wear a bicycle helmet every time you get on your bicycle. International studies show that bicycle helmets reduce injuries by at least 60%. 40% of people who die in bicycling accidents would have survived if they had been wearing a helmet.
Despite these alarming accident statistics, the vast majority of cyclists on the roads aren’t wearing helmets. This is partly because bicycle helmets are bulky and impractical to carry around when you’re not on your bicycle, but it’s also because people think bicycle helmets look hideous and make them look silly.
Bicycle helmets are a hot topic. More and more countries are introducing legislation to make bicycle helmets compulsory. In these countries bicycle helmet use is quite widespread. There are several reasons why lots of people are choosing not to wear bicycle helmets at the moment. The traditional polystyrene helmets take up a lot of room, are hard to carry around and you can’t lock them to your bicycle securely. They ruin your hair and you can’t get a hat on underneath.
The range of bicycle helmets available is extremely narrow, they all look the same and the lack of variety results in very few people wearing them. For most people, bicycling isn’t a sport. They’re just using their bicycles to get from A to B, bicycling to work, into town or to go out in the evening. Despite this, almost all the traditional bicycle helmets on the global market have a sporty design. At the same time, image is becoming increasingly important to us and our clothes and accessories are an essential part of the way we express ourselves. Lots of people are deciding not to wear bicycle helmets because they think they look horrible and because they really don’t go with their own personal style. The fact that people are choosing not to wear bicycle helmets when we all know how important the protection they provide is, was a clear sign that their design needed a radical makeover, adapting it to the demands of today’s bicyclists and all their latest styles. A helmet that just sits on the shelf is no good to anyone.
Hövding is a bicycle helmet unlike any other currently on the market. It’s ergonomic, it’s practical, it complies with all the safety requirements, and it’s also subtle and blends in with what else you are wearing.
Hövding is a collar for bicyclists, worn around the neck. The collar contains a folded up airbag that you’ll only see if you happen to have an accident. The airbag is shaped like a hood, surrounding and protecting the bicyclist’s head. The trigger mechanism is controlled by sensors which pick up the abnormal movements of a bicyclist in an accident.
The actual collar is the visible part of the invention. It’s covered by a removable shell that you can change to match your outfit, and we’ll be launching new designs all the time. Hövding is a practical accessory that’s easy to carry around, it’s got a great-looking yet subtle design, and it will save your life.
Leave us your comments…
