Because of his job, Bishop Franz-Josef Jung can rely on divine support. Nevertheless, symbolically wearing a helmet, he cycled to the police headquarters on Friday. The Würzburg bishop and other celebrities support the new campaign #KopfEntscheid by the Lower Franconian police to wear protective helmets when cycling.
Protection against serious injuries
With videos, posters and control actions you want – said Police President Gerhart Kallert at the presentation of the campaign ?? Make citizens more aware of the dangers of serious facial and skull injuries and reduce the number of accidents. The cyclists, whose hobby is enjoying increasing popularity in Corona times, should (well helmeted) not be a case for the colleagues of Professor Ralf-Ingo Ernestus. ?? The bicycle helmet cannot prevent an accident, but it does protect against serious head and brain injuries ??, emphasizes the.
The neurosurgeon and deputy medical director of the university clinics is one of the fathers of the #KopfEntscheid campaign. Better protection for cyclists is particularly important to him: ?? I promote it wherever I can ?? also in your own clinic.
More accidents with cyclists without helmet protection
The fact that cycling has been enjoying increasing popularity for years is a good thing, emphasized Lower Franconia’s police chief on Friday at the start of the campaign. At the same time, however, the number of accidents in this area is increasing, whereas it has been falling for years in passenger cars (thanks to increasing safety measures such as seat belts and airbags).
Because last year the police registered 15 percent more bicycle accidents than in the previous year. Around half of the cyclists involved in the accident did not wear a helmet. Around every seventh road fatality in Germany is a cyclist. In Lower Franconia, nine out of 13 cyclists killed in 2019 and 2020 were without a helmet.
Celebrities support campaign
This balance should decrease thanks to better education: In a video, the nine-year-old Ida, who belongs to the group of the most eager helmet wearers, advertises. Likewise Margit Kirch, a former accident victim, who after severe head injuries from painful experience assures: ?? Today I would never drive without a helmet again. ??
On the poster, a young woman addresses one of the topics that seem to prevent many from wearing helmets: “I would rather have a wild hairstyle and protect my life”, says Lara Rúnarsson, Miss Bayern 2020.
Cabaret artist, comedian and ex-soccer player
The campaign receives help from the Lower Franconian cabaret artist Michael Müller and comedian Sebastian Reich, who also gave hippopotamus Amanda a helmet. Ex-soccer player Felix Magath also supports the campaign. It was a coincidence that, of all people, the contact from afar to Würzburg through video connection did not work out – but somehow symbolic, as Kickers Würzburg fans noted with a faint smile.
However, that did not diminish the message of the #KopfEntscheid campaign, which should pick up speed in the next few months. The video should be seen motivating on social media, at 17 prevention events and 41 targeted controls, announced the police chief.
Wearing a helmet becomes a #head decision
Kallert and Police Adviser Joachim Hupp emphasized that it was “a great benefit for the campaign that there are so different protagonists in their résumés and ages” who support the cause. The Lower Franconia Police Headquarters have set themselves the goal for 2021 to make it clear that it is a #head decision to wear a bicycle helmet.
This is what the Würzburg bishop also says. “Bicycle helmet or guardian angel?” he is asked and replies: “It is best to always do both together.”
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