Posted on 01/06/2009 9:42:15 AM PST by Daffynition
Motorcyclists in Nigeria have been wearing dried pumpkin shells on their heads to dodge new laws forcing them to wear helmets, authorities have said.
Officials in the northern city of Kano said they had stopped several people with "improvised helmets", following this month's introduction of the law.
Road safety officials said calabash-wearers would be prosecuted.
Thousands of motorbikes have been impounded around the country and drivers have staged protests.
Calabashes are dried pumpkin shells more commonly used to carry liquid.
Kano Federal Road Safety Commission commander Yusuf Garba told the BBC they were taking a hard line with people found using the improvised helmets.
"We are impounding their bikes and want to take them to court so they can explain why they think wearing a calabash is good enough for their safety," he said.
Fifty motorbikes had been seized so far in Kano city alone, he added.
Menace
Motorcycle taxis, called "achaba" in the north of the country and "okada" in the south, are a cheap way for Nigerians to get around congested and chaotic city streets.
[snip]
Often untrained and illiterate, the drivers are considered a menace by many motorists.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.bbc.co.uk ...
Goodnight Mrs. Calabashes, wherevah yo iz!
Uh... that guy can’t possibly be a Nigerian...
Is that what happened to you?
If some joker thinks the contents of his skull aren't worth protecting, who am I to dispute the matter with him?
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My uncle who was an oil minister was killed due to a defective pumpkin helmet which slid down and obstructed his view. He left behind a large sum of money I want to invest in your country.
Hey, I ride too, but I always wear a good full-face.
Street legal!
This has got to be the Nigerian scam to end all Nigerian scams (well... one can always hope).
Is that orange around the eyes something you can see through from the inside? I remember tear-offs (dirt racing) you could buy that had really neat designs on them (eyeballs, flames, etc...). I usually just bought the clear (for night racing) and wore my sunglasses under them during the day.
Must be used as one of Nigeria’s motorcycle training manuals or something.
LOL!
Smashing!!
Simply smashing!
That’s FUNNY!
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