A person in black jacket holding helmet and gloves.
A man holding up a black and red helmet.
TSgt Romell Rogers, 9th Maintenance Group Maintenance Operations Center Superintendent, displays a helmet he was wearing during a motorcycle crash March 23, 2018, at Beale Air Force Base, CA. Romell believes his equipment saved his life and encourages others to make sure they have the right equipment. USAF photo by A1C Tristan D. Viglianco

Put a Lid on It!

By Ms. Betty Nylund Barr, Staff Writer

Most people who ride motorcycles realize the value of wearing a helmet to protect their gray matter—and their life. A significant number, however, apparently do not heed the expert advice and sobering statistics that exist to prevent catastrophic injury or death.

Yes, the wind in your face and whipping through your hair contributes to the overall feeling of freedom experienced when riding a motorcycle, but all it takes is a distracted or drunk driver losing control of his or her vehicle to send you flying through the air. A wet or icy patch of road, an unseen obstacle, or insufficient sleep the night before could result in your hitting the pavement, a tree, or another vehicle. Such an occurrence graphically illustrates how fragile the human body and head really are.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) states unequivocally that “If you are ever in a serious motorcycle crash, the best hope you have for protecting your brain is a motorcycle helmet.†Motorcyclists are already vulnerable without the metal of a vehicle around them as the first line of defense against bodily harm. Why take unnecessary risks?

In 2015, NHTSA published the following compelling, factual assessment of the high physical cost to victims of motorcycle accidents:

In cases of serious injury or death, medical care cannot fully restore victims to their pre-crash status, and the human capital costs fail to capture the relatively intangible value of lost quality-of-life that results from these injuries. In the case of death, victims are deprived of their entire remaining lifespan. In the case of serious injury, the impact on the lives of crash victims can involve extended or even lifelong impairment or physical pain, which can interfere with or prevent even the most basic living functions.1

If you need further convincing, consider these facts compiled in an online document by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:2

  • Helmets saved an estimated 1,859 lives in 2016.
  • If all motorcyclists had worn helmets in 2016, 802 more lives could have been saved.
  • Each year, the United States could save more than $1 billion in economic costs if all motorcyclists wore helmets.
  • Helmets reduce the risk of death by 37 percent.
  • Helmets reduce the risk of head injury by 69 percent.

Wearing a helmet seems to be a no-brainer—to keep you from becoming a no-brainer!

So you agree that the smart thing to do is to buy a helmet—but what to buy? On its website, NHTSA advises, “Always wear a helmet that meets U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 218…. DOT-compliant helmets sold in the United States must have a label on the back that contains the following wording and information: manufacturer and/or brand, model designation, DOT, FMVSS No. 218, CERTIFIED. Labels on certified helmets made before May 13, 2013, simply read DOT.†Some helmets may also have labels inside the helmet indicating that the helmet meets the standards of the Snell Foundation or ANSI (American National Standards Institute), two private nonprofit organizations.

Before you start looking for a helmet, figure out the shape of your head. NHTSA explains that heads can be intermediate oval—the most common head shape—round oval, or long oval. Proper fit depends on buying the right helmet for your head shape; have someone look at your head from above to determine yours.

Next, determine the circumference of your head. Using a cloth tape, measure around your head above your eyebrows in front and at the broadest area in the back. A helmet that fits will be slightly tight, with no uncomfortable pressure points. Helmets may be sold with removable pads so you can adjust the interior of the helmet for fit and comfort.

Finally, avoid buying a novelty helmet; it will not protect your head, which is, after all, the reason for wearing a helmet. Steer clear of helmets advertised as being light or thin. NHTSA stresses that a helmet that meets federal safety standards weighs about 3 lbs., is at least an inch thick, and has a stiff foam liner. It will have sturdy chin straps and solid rivets. Also, nothing should extend from the surface of a helmet more than 2/10 of an inch.

Armed with this information, you should be able to find a comfortable, well-fitting helmet that will protect what is inside!

1 NHTSA information source: National Center for Statistics and Analysis. 2015. Estimating Lives and Costs Saved by Motorcycle Helmets with Updated Economic Cost Information. Traffic Safety Facts Research Note. Report No. DOT HS 812 206. Washington, DC: NHTSA. https://crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/Api/ Public/ViewPublication/812206.

2 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. n.d. Motorcycle Safety. Atlanta, GA: CDC. https://www.cdc.gov/transportationsafety/mc/index.html.