Almost three-quarters of the world’s countries (71%) have motorcycle helmet laws that are comprehensive in scope. Motorcycle helmets contribute to the riders’ safety, lowering the risk of death (by almost 40%) and the risk of severe injury (by over 70%) in case of an impact. Still, there are exceptions in which some bikers are exempted from wearing a helmet. Ontario, for example, decided to allow Sikh motorcyclists to not wear a helmet while riding if they choose to keep their dastār on — the Sikh turban.
In their religion, Sikhs who follow the rules of the 5 Ks, have to wear the turban permanently. But, as can one imagine, covering your head with a turban and wearing the helmet at the same time can be quite difficult. So, as a decision allowed the Sikhism people to ride without a helmet if they keep the dastār on, Pfaff Harley-Davidson planned on developing a prototype as a solution for those who want to keep riding and still feel safe while not compromising their religious beliefs.
To help Sikhs still practice their religion, their passion, keep their identity, and still be safe, the motorcycle dealer joined forces with creative agency Zulu Alpha Kilo and created the “Tough Turban,” with the Sikh Motorcycle Club of Ontario also being present alongside the development process.
“Pfaff Harley-Davidson is proud to help champion an idea that celebrates the diversity of our ridership. We are honored to help advance the cause of diverse gear and to help build awareness for the potential of the innovation amongst our vast community of riders across Canada and around the world,” explains Brandon Durmann, Brand Marketing Specialist at Pfaff Harley-Davidson.
The idea was brought to life thanks to Spark Innovations, being made of impact-resistant materials. Although it keeps the design of a classic turban, this one is made of three protective layers: One is a non-Newtonian foam that hardens on the impact, the second one is made of 3D-printed chainmail, and a composite fabric used in bullet-proof clothing as the third layer.
It took two years for the prototype design to be developed and, even though Jagdeep Singh, spokesperson for the Sikh Motorcycle Club of Ontario declared that he is really excited about it, there’s more to be done before the group can endorse it. “We welcome the ‘freedom to ride’ message that the Tough Turban touts, however, for now, it strictly remains a concept. The idea needs to be developed further and tested for practical daily wear,” he said.
Tough Turban creators admit that even though the equipment has safety materials, it doesn’t offer the same kind of resistance and protection as a traditional helmet would in case of an impact. The website supporting the initiative allows other riders to download the open-source documentation so people can use it to design their own turban.
Credits:
Client: Pfaff Harley-Davidson
Agency: Zulu Alpha Kilo