| Motorcyclists are always evaluating the use of | | | | verses the non-helmet study fails to consider |
| motorcycle helmets. Is this simply a matter of | | | | these two classes of riders. Stating that helmet |
| preference or are there significant issues to be | | | | riders are more cautious by nature. One, they |
| considered? | | | | drive slower, thus have slower speeds in crash |
| A friend of mine (Bill) has chosen to ride with a | | | | situations. Two, they are less likely to have an |
| helmet, or at times without a helmet. He says it | | | | accident. Three, helmet wearers are less likely to |
| depends upon riding conditions for him. One day | | | | drink and drive (alcohol or use of drugs). These |
| he was on a two lane road, traveling about | | | | behavior changes dramatically reduce a riders risk. |
| 50mph when a tractor trailer truck pulled out | | | | On-the-other-hand, factors to consider are: |
| from the right side of the street to go the same | | | | 1-average age of the biker 2-average miles driven |
| direction. His thought was to maintain his speed | | | | each year, per biker 3-average experience of the |
| and simply pass the truck. [Which, most likely | | | | biker 4-the size of the motorcycle driven. So, |
| could be done.] Unfortunately the truck driver did | | | | between the size of the bike, potential speed, |
| not have enough room for the turn, and stopped | | | | age, risk taking and alcohol ingestion; simply, |
| dead still, crossing both lanes. Bill was now | | | | cannot realistically prove the effectiveness of |
| approaching the truck too fast and too close to | | | | helmet use. |
| stop safely. He tried breaking hard but | | | | The Goldstein study did approach these variables |
| immediately knew he was facing the side of the | | | | in question. They reported a study that evaluates |
| trailer head-on. With quick thinking he laid his | | | | the effectiveness of motorcycle helmets in |
| Harley on the side and slid under the trailer and on | | | | accident situations. The conclusions are: |
| down the road a couple hundred feet. Relaying his | | | | 1-Motorcycle helmets have no statistically |
| story to me, he was flat on his back, feet first, | | | | significant effect on the probability of fatality. 2- |
| with his arms spread out and his head bopping on | | | | Helmets reduce the severity of head injuries. |
| the highway. When all was finished he gave credit | | | | 3-Past a critical impact speed of 13 mph, helmets |
| to God for helping him and praised his destroyed | | | | increased the severity of neck injuries. The report |
| helmet for saving his life. [Plus, the leather jacket | | | | then concluded that helmet users face a trade-off |
| and gloves that had taken the tears in place of | | | | between reductions in the severity of head |
| him.] My friend only suffered from some sore | | | | injuries and increases in the severity of neck |
| muscles and hurt pride. But, it brings up the | | | | injuries. |
| subject of helmet safety. | | | | Under these circumstances a mandatory helmet |
| In the KSL-TV News of South Jordan, the Police | | | | use law cannot be reasoned to be an effective |
| Chief (Dan Pearson) is likewise teaching people | | | | method to stop an individuals death or injury |
| that motorcycle helmets save lives, after losing | | | | when involved in an accident. |
| three friends to motorcycle accidents in two | | | | Perhaps other choices need to be considered in |
| years. All three suffered from head injuries and | | | | providing safety in motorcycle use. Here are |
| none were wearing motorcycle helmets. Then, | | | | three suggestions. One, educate the general |
| the police chief himself was involved in an accident | | | | driving public (car and truck drivers) in road use |
| on highway 89 North of Afton, Wyoming. A truck | | | | with motorcycles. Two, educate inexperienced |
| towing a horse trailer had passed him and pulled in | | | | motorcyclists on accident avoidance (evasive |
| front of him, hitting the front of his motorcycle | | | | action) and the proper use of these powerful |
| with the spare tire mounted on the back. Dan | | | | machines. Three, create a strict enforcement of |
| was thrown off his bike, landing headfirst. He | | | | drunk driving laws. |
| says, "This injury would have been a fatal blow if | | | | [Some studies show that alcohol consumption is |
| I hadn't had the helmet on." Dan suffered from | | | | the major factor in deaths and injury.] |
| bruises and a few broken bones. | | | | Harley-Davidson offers basic and advanced |
| The National Highway Traffic Safety | | | | training to 200+ dealerships in 30 states. Honda |
| Administration reports that motorcyclists survive | | | | has four training centers. BMW is considering |
| a crash and receive less serious injuries when | | | | advanced training but says they tend to attract |
| wearing a helmet. They report that at least 600 | | | | seasoned riders. |
| people are saved each year. | | | | It is believed that training cuts panic. You need to |
| One question that is asked, "motorcycle helmets | | | | know how to negotiate a curve and resist the |
| might protect your brain but can it increase your | | | | urge to brake, etc. |
| chances of a broken neck?" Dr. Michael Yorgason, | | | | Here are some other factors that need to be |
| a surgeon at Montana Orthopedics and Sport | | | | considered. Tires should be inflated to the proper |
| Medicine, states that the findings from medical | | | | level. A riders visibility to be seen. Tests have |
| literature shows: "autopsy studies done after fatal | | | | shown that the plain white motorcycle helmets |
| motorcycle accidents have shown that neck | | | | are the easiest to be seen. Clothing makes a |
| injuries and fractures are equally likely, whether | | | | difference between day/night. |
| you are wearing a helmet or not." Yet, most | | | | For night riding there are reflective vests and |
| medical reports support the use of motorcycle | | | | lighted vests available. There is GLO GLOV; |
| helmets. They believe that the helmet generally | | | | reflective tape for clothing and cycle; reflective |
| decreases the risk of head and brain injury | | | | vests and coats. Now back to helmets. |
| significantly and surmise that wearing them does | | | | USA Today carried the statistic from the National |
| not increase your risk of neck injury. | | | | Highway Traffic Saftey Administration, reporting |
| An Italian study concluded that a helmet | | | | that 24% of the fatal crashes in 2003 involved |
| decreased injury by 66%. A Thailand study found | | | | unlicensed motorcyclists, and that car drivers are |
| that after making motorcycle helmets mandatory, | | | | responsible in about two-thirds of motorcycle |
| head injuries decreased by 41% in 2 years. Now, | | | | fatalities. |
| in Kentucky, a study revealed that brain injury | | | | US DOT findings discovered that following the |
| increased by 4.3 times when not wearing a | | | | Helmet Law Repeal in Texas and Arkansas from |
| helmet. | | | | Aug/Sept of 1997 to May 1998, helmet use |
| In an article written by Jonathan P. Goldstein, PhD., | | | | dropped to 52% in Arkansas and to 66% in |
| titled "The Effects of Motorcycle Helmet Use on | | | | Texas. In Arkansas motorcycle fatalities rose |
| the Probability of Fatality and the Severity of | | | | 21% following the repeal and head injuries |
| Head and Neck Injuries." He concludes that there | | | | increased 18.5%. Texas fatalities rose 31%. |
| are a number of variables in a study that puts the | | | | One court case in California disputed what |
| study in question. Major differences are held | | | | standards were set for qualifying a helmet as |
| concerning helmet use or non-helmet use. Normal | | | | "safe". For a list of the US Government |
| results compare death and injury rates are two | | | | "Compliance Testing of Motorcycle Helmets" you |
| and three times greater for non-helmet riders and | | | | can check to see if your helmet passed or failed. |
| increases in occurrence rates in repeal years that | | | | Check with the National Highway Traffic Safety |
| vary from 19% to 63%. On one side: the helmet | | | | Administration (NHTSA). |