Neils Peter Jensen, a German motorcyclist and designer, started Helmets for India in 2019. Being a first-hand witness to a road accident on a Mumbai street, was a turning point. “That child had a chance of walking away unharmed if only he had a helmet on,” says Jensen. Since then, Helmets for India has distributed over 482 specially designed helmets to riders and young pillion riders across Maharashtra and Goa.
Wearing a helmet is a life-saving decision. According to a report on Road Traffic Injuries by the World Health Organization published in September 2021, correct helmet use can lead to a 42% reduction in the risk of fatal injuries and a 69% reduction in the risk of head injuries.
According to the report, Road Accidents in India 2019, published by the Ministry for Road Transport and Highways Transport Research Wing of the Government of India, non-usage of helmets caused 44,666 deaths — 30,148 riders and the 14,518 passengers, accounting for 29.82% of total road accident deaths in the country.
