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How Do Motorcycle Helmets Protect You?
Absorbing and Distributing
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Contrary to popular belief, motorcycle helmets are not hard as rocks, nor are they intended to be. Helmets are created to absorb the impact of a crash, rather than your head. In addition, helmets are designed to distribute the force of that impact over a wider area, saving your head from a blunt blow to one small area.
Outer Shell
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The outer shell is the first line of defense between the ground and your head. Often made of fiberglass-based composites, the shell will flex with the impact of a crash and sometimes even crack. These movements allow the helmet to absorb the brunt of the force, deflecting it away from your head.
Foam Liner
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A foam liner, often made of Styrofoam, is located just inside the outer shell. This liner will collapse on impact, as the tiny air chambers inside the foam are compressed. This compression is designed to keep your head from coming to an abrupt stop against the road, or other point of impact. Instead, your head is cushioned, and it comes to a stop less violently. This style of protection is good for one crash only. Once the liner is compressed, the helmet will no longer function as intended.
Fit and Restraint
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The chin strap on a motorcycle helmet keeps your head where it's supposed to be. This is coupled with cushioned pads on the interior of the helmet that provide both comfort, a snug fit and additional impact absorption. The pads should be thick enough, and the helmet small enough, that your helmet does not move from side to side (or back and forth) on your head. A snug fit helps the foam liner do its job properly: if your helmet is too big, it cannot cushion your head as well.
eHow Article: How Do Motorcycle Helmets Protect You?
