Have you ever looked at your bicycle helmet and thought to yourself, "Meh. I'll risk cracking my head open to spare today's expertly-coiffed hair?" If you answered yes, then you're not alone. According to statistics compiled by the US Consumer Product Safety Commission, more than half of all US bike riders routinely forgo a helmet, despite the fact that doing so puts them at significantly higher risk for head injury and death. While most surveyed claim that they simply forget, or assume it's not necessary given the distance of the ride, it goes without saying that vanity likely plays a role in the decision--consciously or not.
Well, now, for a mere $450, you can look fly
and save your big fat melon from traumatic brain injury. The
Hövding (Swedish for "chieftain") looks like your typical hipster cowl, but actually houses sensors that signal an internal airbag to fill and deploy upon impact. Though we're not entirely sold on the idea of an airbag for our head, the test video below
has sold us on the need to overcome our own conceit and wear a damn old school helmet all the time, every time because this video is scarier than
a teabagger at a Glenn Beck rally. Yes,
that scary.
