EARLIER this year, experienced motorcyclist and owner of Spanking Motors Christopher Hollingsworth set out from Mandeville, Manchester, for Treasure Beach in St Elizabeth — a ride he had taken countless times before.

But on this particular February morning, something was amiss.

“I was closer to my destination than my home, and I turned back for it,” Hollingsworth recalled, reflecting on the gut feeling that led him to retrace his steps.

The “it” he was referring to was his helmet.

Minutes after retrieving the helmet, his instinct proved life-saving. A motorist crashed into the 31-year-old while attempting a dangerous manoeuvre. Hollingsworth was flung from his motorcycle, slamming head first into a wall before hitting the asphalt.

The impact left him with his arms and legs broken in several places, a shattered collarbone, and the need for multiple surgeries to repair the injuries.

“If I wasn’t wearing my helmet that day I would have been dead and maybe buried by now, because I landed head first off my motorcycle,” he said.

The collision in February wasn’t Hollingsworth’s first. In 2016 he suffered a serious leg injury in a crash, and even then he credited his helmet for saving his life. However, the most recent crash forced him to reassess how he practises what he preaches.

“I used to tell people to wear theirs, and yet I wasn’t always doing it,” the young man admitted.

For him, convenience once dictated whether or not he wore his helmet — but that’s no longer the case. Now, Hollingsworth is committed to wearing his helmet every time he drives his motorcycle, and is doubling down on his mission to help young riders see helmet safety as a necessity and not as an option.

While recovering at Mandeville Regional Hospital, Hollingsworth began to notice a troubling pattern. Many of the crash victims admitted alongside him had not been wearing helmets or any form of protective gear. Through his interactions with some of the patients it was revealed that a significant number had consumed alcohol or smoked before getting on their bikes, factors that contributed to them getting into collisions which then resulted in severe injuries.

The experience left a lasting impression on him, shaping the message he now shares with other riders.

“I tell them straight, don’t smoke or drink and ride, and that they have to wear their helmet,” he said.

HOLLINGSWORTH…if I wasn’t wearing my helmet that day I would have been dead and maybe buried by now

With over a decade of riding experience, Hollingsworth understands the culture of biking in Jamaica all too well — the bravado, the pride, and the peer pressure that comes along with it.

“Dem wah show off,” he said. “Every man wants to prove himself.”

He admitted that he once shared those same sentiments, but he has since learnt the importance of helmet safety through his very painful experience.

“I like the feeling of people seeing me,” Hollingsworth shared, acknowledging how the desire for recognition can cloud judgement and, in some cases, cost lives.

Hollingsworth believes the message of helmet safety must come from within the biking community, from people motorcyclists trust rather than from enforcement officers they might fear.

“If the message must come from enforcement, trust must first be built to make them feel respected and safe,” he said. “Bikers won’t engage if they feel like they’re being judged.”

He added that young riders are more likely to listen when they see someone they respect in the community practising what they preach.

Hollingsworth is advocating for a more thoughtful and community-oriented approach to helmet safety.

“They need to know the fundamental values of wearing a helmet,” he said. “Have more parish meetings, get everyone to come together, and build a better understanding. These are the kinds of messages that we want to bring to them, pushing the wearing of helmets.”

When asked if he sees changes in the behaviour of the young riders he mentors, he quickly responded: “Yes, when these young men look up to you as a person in the community, if you wear a helmet, they are going to start wearing it too.”

Now, as he continues his recovery, Hollingsworth is more determined than ever to use his experience to educate others.

“Gain as much experience as you can before speeding,” he advised. “Get licensed, make sure your helmet is certified, and always ride within your skill level.”

Reflecting on Hollingsworth’s story, Sydoney Preddie, project manager for road safety and road user education at the JN Foundation, noted that his experience holds significant value for both the biking community and the wider national conversation on helmet safety.

“His approach to engaging young bikers aligns closely with the work of the [National Helmet Wearing] Coalition. We strongly believe that effective advocacy requires meaningful connection with the community in order for the message to truly resonate,” she said.

Hollingsworth’s efforts to educate and inspire others are making a lasting impact on the biking community, and his story is a powerful reminder of the importance of safety on the road.

“Thank God for my helmet,” he said, reflecting on his close call. “I was lucky but I want others to understand, ‘Don’t wait until it’s too late to make the right decision. It only takes one split second for something to go terribly wrong — and that’s the difference between life and death.”

The National Helmet Wearing Coalition is an initiative being implemented by the JN Foundation in partnership with the National Road Safety Council and the FIA Foundation. The coalition is dedicated to improving motorcycle helmet safety in Jamaica. Its core objectives are to increase helmet usage, promote certified helmets, and advocate for stronger road safety policies.