Wearing a bicycle helmet is compulsory What will you do? Mar 3 at 27:17

From April 4, it will be mandatory for everyone to wear a helmet when riding a bicycle.

Looking around, I feel that there are still few people riding bicycles wearing helmets.

It's just an obligation to make an effort, so there are no penalties for not wearing a hat, but what do you guys think?
(Matsuyama Broadcasting Station Cameraman Kaoru Okabe)

If I was wearing a helmet at that time...

My name is Daichi Watanabe.

I was a first-year student at a high school in Iyo City, Ehime Prefecture.

Nine years ago, he died in a car accident.

He had a gentle personality and belonged to the photography club, and was good at capturing casual moments in everyday life.

Daichi had an accident in December of Heisei 26.

After studying for the final exams, I was on my way home from school on my bicycle when I was hit by a truck while crossing a pedestrian crossing.

He was taken to the hospital with a strong blow to the head, but he died.

Hermet was not wearing a hat.

A series of serious bicycle accidents make helmet wearing mandatory effort

Serious accidents involving bicycles are occurring one after another across the country.

According to the National Police Agency, there were 1,6 accidents involving bicycles nationwide in one year, and the proportion of traffic accidents in the total number of traffic accidents is increasing year by year.

In addition, 5,2145 people died in the five years leading up to the end of life, and 6% of them were caused by fatal injuries to the head.

Until now, the law required parents to wear helmets for children under the age of 13.

However, in order to minimize the damage caused by accidents by having people including adults make it a habit to wear it, the law was amended and it became mandatory for everyone to wear it from April 4.

Without Hermet, the fatality rate increases by 2.2 times

How much impact is applied to the head in an actual accident?

JAF=Japan Automobile Federation reproduced a collision accident between bicycles and experimented with dolls.

The impact of the collision caused the bicycle to fall and the doll's head to the ground.

When comparing head impacts with and without helmets, it was found that the impact without helmet was about 17 times higher.

According to the National Police Agency, the fatality rate of bicycle accidents in the five years leading up to the end of the year was more than 5.2 times that of those who were wearing a helmet.

If not worn, it can lead to serious injuries, such as breaking the skull, which greatly increases the risk of death.

Ehime Prefecture ranks first in Japan in wearing rate as an "advanced cycling prefecture"

The Shimanami Kaido connects Ehime and Hiroshima prefectures.

You can ride a bicycle on the bridge while enjoying the scenery of the Seto Inland Sea, and it is known as a "sacred place for cyclists".

In addition, Ehime Prefecture has designated the second Sunday in November as "Ehime Cycling Day" and is focusing on spreading bicycle culture by holding bicycle-related events in various places.

Ehime Prefecture can be said to be an advanced prefecture for cycling.

According to a survey conducted by a private organization three years ago on the rate of bicycle helmet wearing, Ehime Prefecture ranked first in the country at 11%, compared to the national average of 2.3%.

Most high school students wear helmets to school during the morning commute to school, and when we look at the actual rate of wearing helmets only among junior high and high school students, a survey conducted by the prefectural police in October last year showed that the result was almost 10%.

Popularization of helmets in Ehime Prefecture Thoughts of a father who lost his son in the background

The reason why bicycle helmets became popular among junior high and high school students in Ehime Prefecture was that there were a series of sad fatal accidents involving high school students while commuting to school, such as the accident of Daichi Watanabe.

This is Daichi's father, Akihiro Watanabe.

Not wanting to see anyone like himself grieve the loss of a child in a traffic accident again, Watanabe has been giving lectures on traffic safety and the importance of life since the accident.

Akihiro Watanabe
: "The life we cherished for 15 years ended only five hours after the accident. A traffic accident can deprive a family of peace in an instant. Don't forget that."

Mr. Watanabe's thoughts move the government.

In Heisei 27, the year after the accident, the Prefectural Board of Education made it mandatory for students of prefectural high schools to wear a helmet when riding a bicycle.

The prefectural government also provided budget support by distributing bicycle helmets free of charge to students at prefectural high schools.

Even at the high school that Daichi attended, students who wish to commute by bicycle are required to wear a helmet and purchase insurance, and now it is commonplace to wear a helmet when riding a bicycle.

"Lives saved by helmets"

Someone says, "I'm still alive because of Hermet."

This is Honoka Hyodo, a third-year high school student.

I go to the same high school as Daichi Watanabe, who died in an accident nine years ago.

Mr. Hyodo was hit by a large truck while crossing the Ototoshi intersection on his bicycle.

The impact knocked his body hard against the asphalt road, causing serious injuries that broke the bone in his left elbow.

On the other hand, he also hit his head hard, but he was wearing a helmet, so there was no difference in his life.

Honoka
Hyodo: "I broke my left elbow and hit my left side of the head hard. If I hadn't worn it, I think I would have died. I was thrilled when the doctor at the hospital told me, 'If I didn't have a helmet, I would have died.'"

A high school student who was saved: "Wear it to protect your dreams and life"

Honoka Hyodo says that thanks to her helmet, she was able to survive nine deaths.

This spring, I will go to a university outside the prefecture with the aim of becoming a home economics teacher.

In order to cherish their one-time life, he wants as many people as possible to wear helmets.

Honoka
Hyodo: "At that time, I really feel that if I hadn't worn a helmet, I wouldn't have been able to do what I want to do now. If you have something you want to do in the future or don't want your life to end, I definitely want you to wear a helmet."

Father who lost his son: "First of all, adults should lead by example"

Akihiro Watanabe lost his irreplaceable son in an accident.

In order to protect the lives of precious children from traffic accidents, it is important for adults to take the initiative in wearing helmets when riding bicycles and to set an example for children.

Akihiro Watanabe
: "If you are conscious of being a role model for children, you can wear a helmet. If the adults around them wear it as a matter of course, children will naturally wear it in the same way, and I think a good chain will continue. I hope that everyone's awareness will change little by little. Right now, some people may still say, 'It's hot when you wear a helmet,' or 'Your hairstyle will be ruined,' but I hope that eventually everyone will say that wearing a helmet is the norm."

Matsuyama Broadcasting Station Cameraman
Kaoru OkabeJoined the station
in 2007Specialized
in mountain coverageMountaineering
, bicycle, safety first
bicycle helmet