Helmets

Wearing a helmet--especially requiring riders to wear a helmet--is a very controversial topic. Many riders will argue that wearing a helmet is a matter of individual choice and helmet laws deprive them of their right to choose. Personally, I am a strong advocate for wearing a helmet. I believe the "personal choice" argument is spurious. This argument is based on the assumption that no one is harmed but the rider if he or she is injured in an accident. In fact, many people are harmed. My insurance premiums go up when injured riders require unnecessary and avoidable medical or disability expenses following an accident. My Social Security is put at risk when the system must pay out unnecessary survivor benefits to families that lose a loved one. When a motorcyclist chooses to ride without a helmet, he or she takes a lot of people along for that ride. More importantly, I don't get a say, I just have to pay. Riding without a helmet is placing me at risk of having to maintain you and your family should you have an accident. Personally, I don't know you well enough to trust you with my money.

The Hurt Report and numerous other safety studies have conclusively shown that wearing a helmet reduces injury and protects a fallen rider. Arguments about reduced peripheral vision, diminished hearing, and neck injuries are all red herrings. A well-designed helmet does not restrict peripheral vision, nor does it diminish hearing. In fact, a three-quarter or full-faced helmet will PROTECT hearing by preventing hearing loss associated with wind noise. Finally, riders are LESS likely to experience neck injuries while wearing a helmet.

Plain and simple: riders wearing a helmet are less likely to be involved in an accident and experience less severe injuries when they are involved in an accident. You can disagree if you want, but the data won't back you up.

If you still insist that riding without a helmet is one of your personal freedoms, then be sure to fill out an organ donor form and give someone medical power of attorney.

Picking a helmet

A lot of personal factors go into selecting a helmet. The following is a list of factors I consider important in selecting a helmet for myself. Please don't take this as advice. This is merely my opinion and should be viewed as such. Do your research and consider what others have to contribute to your selection.

1. Always look for the DOT (Department of Transportation) sticker. The DOT sticker is your assurance that the helmet meets current construction standards. It's even better if the helmet also meets Snell standards. Meeting construction standards, unfortunately, doesn't necessarily mean that the helmet has been tested. Test results for various makes and models of helmet are available on line at http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/testing/comply/fmvss218/index.html.

2. Make sure the helmet fits. Every head is shaped differently, so you will have to shop for a helmet that fits properly. The helmet should fit snugly, but not too tight or loose. A too tight helmet will quickly become uncomfortable; a too loose helmet may come off in an accident situation. A simple test is to put the helmet on, grab the back of the helmet, and pull it forward. If you can pull the helmet off (even if it hurts to do so), then the helmet does not fit well and won't protect you properly.

3. Check the chin strap. The chin strap should hold the helmet on your head securely and comfortably. If the strap slips off easily, so will the helmet.

4. The more helmet the better. Full-face helmets (ones with a chin bar) give the most protection. Three-quarter helmets (cover the head, but don't have a chin bar) provide reasonable protection. Shorty helmets offer some protection, while "beanie" and novelty helmets offer no protection whatsoever. The issue here is trading comfort for protection. On a hot day, shorty helmets can let in more air, but they offer the least protection. Full-face helmets may protect well, but can become uncomfortably hot. Interestingly, this changes with cold weather riding. Full-face helmets will keep you warmer on those late fall and early spring rides. I wear a three-quarter helmet with a hardened flip-up visor. This gives me a little more protection and also lets in more air when I am stopped at an intersection.

Feel free to write me at Nick.Piazza@utoledo.edu if you have any other guidelines to contribute toward selecting a helmet. If you disagree with my position on helmets, believe me, I've heard all the arguments so save yourself the trouble of sending me an email. Just like you, mine is a firmly held belief that won't be swayed by logic or invective.