Helmet stickers to be rolled out across Sussex

The Sussex Safer Roads Partnership (SSRP) is rolling out technology that enables faster sharing of vital information about a motorcyclist or cyclist involved in a road collision.

The SSRP is supporting the rollout of QR code stickers that carry personal information about the rider. The stickers are designed to be fixed to a crash helmet and can be scanned by emergency services for personal and medical information.

The iCEQR (In Case of Emergency Quick Response) stickers have been produced by CERQL, a company with expertise in this kind of technology, and will be handed out to motorcyclists and cyclists.

iCEQR is available in two formats, helmet stickers and Tyvek or vinyl wristbands. The stickers are designed for, but not limited to, motorcyclists, cyclists, winter sports enthusiasts, horse riders and construction workers; wristbands are effective for lost children and those with medical issues.

iCEQRs contain a QR code which, once scanned, reveals critical personal or medical details of the individual to first responders or the emergency services. They have a storage capacity of 1,500 characters and 10 photos. The URL of the page containing the information is embedded in a QR code and viewed using standard QR scanners which are widely available on mobile phones and tablets.

Graeme Beattie, road safety officer at East Sussex County Council, said: “Any opportunity to provide first responders and the emergency services with marginal gains in the golden hour after a road traffic incident has to be supported.

“It is fundamental to find practical ways for road users to be able to share medical or personal information in critical situations, and we believe that these stickers provide an easy and up-to-date approach that can help towards increasing the likelihood of a positive outcome in such situations.”

In conjunction with this initiative, South East Coast Ambulance Service (NHS) has been issued with computer tablets pre-installed with QR readers.

SSRP will be giving away free iCEQR stickers to the first 5,000 visitors to its stand at various events across the county.