How effective is a helmet?

Answer

Wearing a helmet reduces the risk of head injury in a crash considerably. An international review of 61 studies on the use of a moped helmet shows that the risk of severe head injury decreases by about 69% when wearing a helmet (Liu et al., 2007). The risk of being killed in a motorcycle crash decreases by about 42%.

Research has also been done on whether wearing a helmet can have negative consequences for the incurrence of head and neck injury. In Switzerland, Konrad et al. (1996) found that wearing a helmet of 1500 grams or more was to be discouraged because of an increased risk of a skull base fracture.

Furthermore, studies have been carried out on possible differences in effectiveness between the various helmet types, particularly the full face helmet and the jet helmet. It is clear that a full face helmet with a fixed jaw guard considerably reduces the risk of chin and facial injury. The jet helmet lacks this protection. Studies carried out in Taiwan and Australia also find no difference between the full face and the jet helmet in causing spinal cord injuries (Lin et al., 2004; O'Connor, 2005)..

According to Wells et al. (2004), the colour of the helmet can be important in preventing crashes. Wearers of a white helmet even have a 24% lower crash rate than those wearing a black helmet. The cause of this difference would be a better visibility of motorcyclists wearing a white helmet. However, a personality difference between riders choosing a black and those choosing a white helmet, such as a greater safety awareness, cannot be ruled out.

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