Absolutely partners with Hövding on safety initiative for cycle couriers

Absolutely has announced a new safety initiative in with airbag company Hövding which it says will make its cycle couriers “the best protected in London”. Absolutely has partnered with Hövding to provide a select number of its couriers with “the world’s best head protection”.

The Absolutely couriers will be equipped with the Hövding airbags in an initial three month trial which starts today (29 June).

Jeremy Thompson, Managing Director of Absolutely commented: “Hövding is a good example of deploying technology in our business for the benefit of our cycle couriers and leading the way in London. We very much hope to see this world leading technology being deployed not only within our business but also throughout the UK to reduce injuries and fatalities.

“According to TFL’s 2015 report released in June 2016 , there were 387 serious cyclist injuries in London, of which nine were fatalities. Ensuring our couriers have adequate protection is of paramount importance to us and following our partnership with Hövding , we intend to lead the field.”

Fredrik Carling, CEO of Hövding, added: “Hövding is always looking for opportunities to partner up with other forward-thinking companies that encourage and promote cycle safety.”

The Hövding is worn around the neck like a collar and is able to read a cyclist’s body movements at 200 times per second. In an event of an accident, the airbag is triggered by changes in a cyclist’s body movement patterns and fully inflates in 0.1 seconds, providing full protection and the best shock absorption, before impact. The device protects nearly all of the head, while leaving the field of vision open.

Hövding said it is “aware of over 800 accidents in four years where Hövding has potentially saved a cyclist’s life”.