Over the years, motorcycles have been linked with a number of images in society. Riding a chopper, for example, implies that you are a rigid, tough guy biker with black in your veins. Riding a crotch-rocket provides the image of street racer and vigilant. While each ride might imply a different image of who the rider is, the safety of all bikes are the same. In that regard, helmets are known as the most crucial piece of injury prevention for any motorcycle rider.
According to the US Department of Transportation. In 2005, fatal accidents occur four times as much on motorcycles than with passenger automobiles. That is the kind of statistic that should never be ignored. With the risk increased, it seems only logical to wear extra protection. This is where helmets come in. While helmets might not make you the most stylish biker on the block, they protect your most valuable asset as a human; your brain. Wearing a helmet could very well save your life one day, but the wrong helmet could cost you it as well.
Knowing how to pick the right helmet is easy. The most important thing to look for is a DOT or Snell sticker on the helmet before you buy it. The sticker represents that the helmet you hold has met the minimum safety test standard of the Department of Transportation and/or the Snell Memorial Foundation. Most helmets meet these standards and are therefore able to protect your head in the case of a crash; however not all helmets available for sale have these stickers. Helmets without the sticker should only be used for show, never for riding. If you’re going to wear a helmet, it might as well be one that will work.
Generally, there are three types of motorcycle helmets to choose from. A full-faced helmet will cover you’re head entirely. These are the best protection as a visor will cover your eyes as well. Then there is the three-quarter (open-face) helmet, which covers everything but your face. The safest way to wear these is with a snap-on face shield sold separately. The third kind and least effective helmet is the half (shorty) helmet. They only cover the top of the head and often come off during times of collision. All of these helmets come in a wide variety of styles and colors, but only the full-faced helmet offers the safest riding experience.
It might not be the most aesthetically pleasing attire, but the helmet serves as the staple of motorcycle safety. Even the most outlaw biker knows this truth. The next time you suit up to go on a ride, remember, any helmet is infinity better than no helmet.
Tyler Baker; OSM Writer
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