A Motorcycle helmet is a protective headgear used by motorcycle riders. The primary goal of a motorcycle helmet is to protect the rider's head during collision or accident, thus preventing or reducing head injury or saving the rider's life. Research and surveys concluded that helmets reduce the risk of head injury by around 69% and death by around 42%. Helmet's purpose is to save the rider's head from brain injuries that are more serious than skull fractures. They frequently result in death, permanent disability or personality change and, unlike bone; neurological tissue has very limited ability to recover after an injury. Therefore, the primary purpose of a helmet is to prevent traumatic brain injury while skull and face injuries are a significant secondary concern.
The conventional motorcycle helmet has two principal protective components:
- Outer Shell: It is made up of thin, hard, made from polycarbonate plastic, fiberglass, or Kevlar. The purpose of the hard outer shell is to prevent penetration of the helmet by a pointed object that might otherwise puncture the skull, and to provide structure to the inner liner so it does not disintegrate upon abrasive contact with pavement. This is important because the foams used have very little resistance to penetration and abrasion.
- Inner Shell: It is made up of soft, thick, inner liner usually made of expanded polystyrene or polypropylene "EPS" foam. The purpose of the foam liner is to crush during an impact, thereby increasing the distance and period of time over which the head stops and reducing its deceleration.
Helmets are inexpensive insurance as they protect the rider or reduce the severity of the crash between the brain and skull. Some helmets provide additional conveniences, such as ventilation, face shields, ear protection, intercom etc too. Motorcycle riders, Scooters, racers must choose the best helmets as per their requirements as this is the most important safety and life saving accessory for two wheeler riders. No matter how experienced one is, wearing helmets does protect from serious head injuries.
Types of Helmets:
- Full face helmet: - They cover the entire head, with a rear that covers the base of the skull, and a protective section over the front of the chin. Such helmets have an open cutout in a band across the eyes and nose, and often include a clear or tinted transparent plastic face shield, known as a visor, that generally swivels up and down to allow access to the face.
- Motocross and off-road helmet: - These helmets have clearly elongated chin and visor portions, a chin bar, and partially open face to give the rider extra protection while wearing goggles and to allow the unhindered flow of air during the physical exertion of this type of riding. The visor is to allow the rider to dip his head and provide further protection from flying debris during off road riding. It will also keep the sun out of the eyes of the rider during jumps.
- Modular or “flip-up” helmet: - When fully assembled and closed, they resemble full face helmets by bearing a chin bar for absorbing face impacts. Its chin bar may be pivoted upwards (or, in some cases, may be removed) by a special lever to allow access to most of the face, as in an open face helmet. They are sometimes termed “convertible” or “flip-face”.
- Open face or “three-quarters” helmet: - These types of helmets cover the ears, cheeks, and back of the head, but lack the lower chin bar of the full face helmet. Many offer snap-on visors that may be used by the rider to reduce sunlight glare.
- Half helmet: - They also referred to as a “Shorty” in the USA and “Pudding Basin” or TT helmet in the UK. It has essentially the same front design as an open face helmet but without a lowered rear in the shape of a bowl. The half helmet provides the minimum coverage.
Wearing helmets are the most effective way of reducing head injuries and fatalities. Helmets are designed to compress when struck, which reduces the dangerousness of the impact by absorbing and dispersing force. The best buy are the full face helmets as they completely guard the head. Not only bikes, even cycle riders should also wear bicycle helmet in order to avoid injuries. Some of the world popular helmet brands: HJC, Shoei, Arai, Icon, Scorpion, Skid Lid, Thor, Bell helmets.
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