A new law in Nigeria forces motorcycle riders to wear helmets when riding their bikes. According to the new law, all motorcycle riders and their passengers must wear a helmet. Some 4,000 riders die in Nigeria every year, and the government passed the law to try to reduce this number.
But the local motorcycle taxis are the problem. Motorcycle taxis in Africa are very popular. Traffic is always very dense, and hailing a motorcycle taxi is a cheap and fast way to get to your destination. However, according to the angry taxi drivers, passengers either steal the helmets, or they cast an evil spell on the helmet, causing the wearer to lose consciousness, so they can be easily robbed {link}. ("honest dear, I did not go drinking with the money, I was robbed after someone cast a spell on my helmet.... ").
So, in order to have something on their head that looks like a helmet, the motorcycle taxi drivers have resorted to calabashes, a dried pumpkin shell. Though quite strong, no way will it protect anyone in an accident.
The local Police are taking a hard line against these illegal "helmets", impounding the motorcycles and the "helmets". The owners are then asked to explain in court why they think the pumpkin will save their lives... So far 50 motorcycles have been impounded in Kano.
Before anyone remarks that the photo is not a pumpkin, it isn't! It has nothing to do with the story.....(the photo was nicked from MasMoto.net)
Via: BBC
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