Debunking Myths Involving Whether Or Not Motorcycle Helmets Are Safe
Posted on: 28 September 2015
According to the U.S Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), motorcycle drivers are at a huge disadvantage on the road because they are 35 times more likely to endure a fatal accident on the road than someone who is driving a vehicle. Statistics also show that head injuries are the most common cause of motorcycle crash fatalities as motorcyclists without a helmet are 40 percent more likely to pass away from a head injury and 15 percent more likely to suffer from a head injury that is not fatal. With this information in mind, it is important to know there are a lot of myths involving the relationship between motorcycle helmets and safety. As a motorcycle rider, it is a good idea for you to know what is true and what is not.
Myth: Motorcycle Helmets Increase The Chance of Breaking Your Neck
Logically, it would make sense for an individual to believe that when he or she gets thrown from a motorcycle the extra weight the helmet places can cause his or her neck to break. Fortunately, helmets are designed not to work this way. Helmets are designed with shock absorbing qualities that actually prevent an individual's neck from being broken.
Myth: Helmets Decrease a Rider's Ability to Hear and See
According to the same NHTSA study, motorcycle riders wearing a helmet are 29 percent more likely to survive a crash than riders who were not wearing one. The study determined that while there is a slight loss in the motorcycle rider's lateral view, turning their heads slightly before changing lanes resolves this issue. The study did not reveal any significant differences between a rider's ability to hear wearing a helmet versus not wearing a helmet.
Based on the findings of this study, one can deduce that the negative impact on a rider's hearing and vision does not outweigh the benefits to wearing a helmet while riding a motorcycle. With almost a 30 percent chance of being more likely to survive an accident with a helmet on, it would be silly not to wear one.
Myth: Wearing a Helmet Increases Your Risk of Brain Injury
Naturally, it is possible for a helmet to absorb enough of the impact of a crash to prevent fatal injuries while still causing brain injuries. However, wearing a helmet while riding a motorcycle does not put you at an increased risk of brain injuries. In fact, if a motorcyclist is hit hard enough to cause brain injury with a helmet on, he or she is likely to pass away from some other injury.
As you can see, there are a lot of myths involving whether or not motorcycle helmets are actually safe, and most of them are supported by logic that makes sense. However, studies and facts about the way the helmets are designed debunk all of these myths.
For further assistance, contact a local motorcycle injury lawyer , such as one from Whiting, Hagg, Hagg, Dorsey & Hagg.
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