Why Did This City In The Philippines Ban The Use Of Full-Face Helmets?

The world is an unpredictable place and making it confusing at times are laws that have their twisted way of changing our basic behaviour. One such recent example took place a few weeks back in the Western Visayas region of Bacolod in the Philippines, where its municipality corporation passed a new mandate that bans the use of a full-face helmet. 

While it may seem odd at first, this new law came into force when an individual wearing a full-face helmet threw a grenade in a very crowded area of the city. The attack took place on February 27 and left three people critically injured and damaged two vehicles. 

Although the attacker was arrested, the usage of a full-face helmet to commit the grave act has prompted Executive Order 86. 

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The Safety Issue

From a security measure point of view, the rule does make sense provided the ban applies in certain closed/ intimate spaces. However, to put a blanket rule across the entire city comes across as arm twisting citizens, especially motorcyclists. 

Moreover, full-face helmets are structurally proven to offer 360-degree protection to your head and face. Half-face helmets or convertible helmets expose your face, which might feel comfortable at times, and from a security check point of view - reassuring. However, the structural rigidity and integrity are lost in these types of protective gears.

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The Irony

Just like India, the Philippines also has a buzzing two-wheeler market. This translates to a huge consumer base, and several wanton acts of violence have been carried out using motorcycles. While there is a strong reason as to why the government did what it did, Executive Order 86 fails to take into count the safety aspect, which is ironical, since helmets are built and worn for exactly that reason!