While mopeds and e-bikes are a common choice for transportation particularly in developing countries, helmets continue to be a difficult safety issue. Between 2008 and 2020, 3.4 million fatalities may be caused by motorcycle accidents, 3 per cent of which will be children. Wearing a helmet could save 42 per cent of lives and avoid 69 per cent of serious injury. However, helmets for mopeds and e-bikes that exceed 40 kph tend to be heavy and expensive, two things that often discourage use.
A new generation of helmets designed to be both ventilated and light weighing could well provide a solution. UNECE organized a demonstration of these new helmets together with different models of e-bikes in the park of the Palais des Nations on 23 February, as part of the 78th session of the Inland Transport Committee.
This brand new type of helmets for use by moped and e-bike riders has been type-approved according to the most stringent safety requirements set forth in UN Regulation No. 22, annexed to the 1958 Agreement.