Modern Motorcycle Helmet Safety Facts
Choosing a high-quality helmet and ensuring it fits properly is essential to maximize riding safety. Fortunately, modern motorcycle helmets incorporate several safety features and advancements.
Wearing a proper helmet is not only essential to adhere to regulations but can significantly reduce your injuries in an accident. However, if you have been involved in a motorcycle accident, an attorney for motorcycle injuries can help you. That is because many motorcyclists face a stigma of reckless driving and are wrongfully blamed for the accident.
Fortunately, attorneys are crucial in challenging social stigmas and proving the truth. Consult a motorcycle accident attorney to pursue justice for your claim and ensure fair compensation. Here are some key facts about the safety features found in modern motorcycle helmets.
Impact Absorption
Modern motorcycle helmets are designed to absorb and dissipate the energy generated during an impact. The helmets feature an inner liner made of expanded polystyrene (EPS) foam, which compresses upon impact. This reaction reduces the force transmitted to the head and brain. The EPS foam is usually combined with other materials, such as multi-density foam or composite layers, to optimize impact absorption.
Outer Shell & Retention System
The outer shells of modern motorcycle helmets are usually made of robust but lightweight materials, such as fiberglass, carbon fiber, or polycarbonate. These durable materials provide structural integrity and help distribute impact forces over a larger area, helping to minimize the risk of skull fractures or head injuries.
The retention system, usually in the form of a chin strap, helps secure the helmet on the rider’s head. This strap is typically equipped with a secure fastener, such as a double D-ring or quick-release buckle, to ensure a snug and adjustable fit.
Eye Protection & Ventilation
Most modern motorcycle helmets feature a visor, often made of shatter-resistant polycarbonate, to protect the rider’s eyes from wind, debris, and even UV rays. Some helmets include anti-fog coatings to ensure visibility. There are also multiple visor options, like clear, tinted, or photochromic, and mechanisms for easy visor replacement.
Adequate ventilation also ensures visibility by preventing fogging. The helmets have ventilation systems with intake and exhaust vents strategically placed to promote proper airflow and reduce heat buildup.
Safety Regulations Compliance
Reputable helmet manufacturers comply with established safety standards, such as those imposed by the Department of Transportation (DOT). Those standards ensure that helmets meet specific criteria for impact resistance, penetration resistance, field of vision, and chin strap strength.
Helmets also achieve optimal safety standards if they fit correctly. The advantage of modern helmets is that they come in various sizes and shapes to accommodate the rider. A well-fitting helmet should be snug, without any pressure points, and not move or rotate excessively on the head.
Modular and Full-face Helmets
Full-face helmets provide the highest level of protection since they cover the entire head of the rider, including their face and chin. Modular helmets offer a combination of full-face protection and the convenience of an open-face helmet with a flip-up front section. Both types offer increased facial protection compared to open-face or half-shell helmets.
