Why Do People Wear Motorcycle Helmets?
A helmet is an important piece of equipment for riding a motorcycle. There are several safety, comfort, legal and image reasons why you should put on a helmet every time you ride.
-
Protection
-
The most important reason for wearing a motorcycle helmet is the protection it provides for the rider's head and neck. According to the Motorcycle Safety Foundation, the outer shell and impact-absorbing liner of a motorcycle helmet disperse energy from an impact and absorb shock.
Law
-
According to the Governors Highway Safety Association, as of 2010, the following states, along with the District of Columbia, require all riders by law to wear helmets: Alabama, California, Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, Washington and West Virginia. Many other states have partial helmet laws.
-
Comfort
-
Helmets let cyclists ride in more comfort. According to the Motorcycle Safety Foundation, helmets keep bugs off of riders' faces and reduce noise from wind and surrounding traffic.
Misconceptions
-
Some people worry that helmets reduce the rider's field of vision or think that the helmet won't provide any protection for most accidents. Motorcycle Cruiser emphasizes the facts that drivers who wear helmets have fewer accidents than those who do not and that cyclists are more likely to survive a crash wearing a helmet than without one.
Warning
-
Not all helmets provide equal protection to the rider. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration advocates purchasing only helmets with "DOT" on the label. These helmets have been certified to comply with federal safety law. Uncertified, also called "novelty" helmets, do not perform as well in testing.
-
References
- Motorcycle Safety Foundation: What You Should Know About Motorcycle Helmets
- Governors Highway Safety Association: State Motorcycle and Bicycle Helmet Laws
- Motorcycle Cruiser: A Dozen Deadly Motorcycle Safety Myths
- National Highway Traffic Safety Administration: Summary of Novelty Helmet Performance Testing
- Photo Credit the motorcyclist on a motorcycle. image by Yuri Bizgaimer from Fotolia.com
