Students help develop helmet to encourage more cyclists to wear one
The nationwide helmet-wearing rate stood at just 24.4%, according to a National Police Agency survey released in September.
In Japan, helmet use has increased significantly since a revised road traffic law was implemented three and a half years ago, encouraging cyclists to wear helmets. Despite this progress, only one in four cyclists now don protective gear. To boost helmet adoption, particularly among younger riders, the Metropolitan Police Department has partnered with university students to design a new helmet.
This helmet hit store shelves in August. Prior to the law amendment in April 2023, helmet use was only recommended for children under 13, with parents and guardians responsible for ensuring compliance. Now, all cyclists are expected to wear helmets, though there are no legal repercussions for non-compliance.
Written by urgent.news from Japan Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
