Maxim (14) survived heavy collision on the way to school and now wears helmet: « I needed this wake-up call » (Ypres)

« I suppose I didn’t see that car coming because of the low -hanging sun. » Maxim Everaet was seized last year on his bike when crossing the Steentjemolenstraat near the Ypres village of Elverdinge. Maxim came from his house in the Vleterse district of Woesten and was on his way to his school, the VTI van Ypres.

« They can drive 90 km per hour there, so I have been very lucky, » says Maxim. « My family and friends were very shocked. I don’t remember anything, even the blow. I have to have ended up with my backpack against the car, rolled over the roof and then ended up on my backpack. That backpack was my salvation. If I ended up with my head, then it became a different story. A helmet?

« I ran a collarbone fracture and because of the impact I had a heavy concussion, » continues Maxim. « The doctors told me that a helmet could limit the consequences of the concussion. I had a lot of problems: light was barely tolerated and I could hardly move. At home I had to recover for a long time. Only the last few weeks of the previous school year could I start back in the VTI with half days. Now I realize what a helmet a helmet can make. »

Read too. Cyclist (13) seriously injured after collision on the way to school

Wake-up call

Also in the Maximal Nearby surroundings the realization grows through what happened to him. Maxim brother and sisters now always wear a helmet. « It also made something loose among the classmates, » says Hilde De Houwer, administrative assistant of the VTI. « They were visited by it and also started to wear a helmet. Just like me. Because what did I wait? An accident? It may have happened rapidly, I needed this wake-up call. »

Unexpected actions

In the meantime, the school is holding unexpected actions at the Schoolpoort in collaboration with the parents’ council. Anyone who shows up with helmet will be received with lit thumb and treated to a receipt for a ten -hour in the school restaurant. Pupils without a helmet are kindly encouraged to do that. « The helmet is well established in primary schools, but often disappears when switching to high school, » says VTI director Pieter Roets. “The accident of Maxim led to a change in mentality. It was suddenly no longer no more Uncool To go to school with a helmet. ”

Maxim also passed the surprising checkpoint at the school gate on Wednesday, with helmet. « Such actions are good, they can save lives, » he says. « Even recommended: light your light in the dark and in foggy, rainy weather. Certainly then cyclists are difficult to visible in traffic. »