How Safe Is Your Helmet? New Study Gives Safety Rankings of Helmets

"Wear your helmet" is solid advice. But not as much thought is given to the differences between various helmets. The general belief is that as long as you are wearing a helmet, any helmet, your head will receive some protection in case of a fall or a crash. As death and injury rates for bicyclists grow, researchers at Virginia Tech University and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety decided it was time to analyze which helmets reduce the risk of injuries for bicyclists.

Virginia Tech performed this study which focused on helmet impact tests to evaluate a helmet's ability to reduce linear acceleration and rotational velocity of the head resulting from a range of impacts a cyclist might experience. The researchers spent months researching how cyclists were most likely to hit their heads in crashes and used that information to replicate a dozen scenarios to replicate those hits. What they found may surprise you.

Urban-style helmets (Bern, etc.) are often purchased for their sleek design and with the thought that since the helmet covers more of your head, it must give you more protection. That thought process follows the conventional wisdom that "more is better," but this study proved it wrong. This style of helmet didn’t perform as well due to the fact that they have a thinner layer of the foam that compresses upon impact. This means that although there is more area of the head covered, the impact can still cause a significant head injury because there is less cushioning even though there is more surface area to the helmet.

One of the key findings is that a relatively new technology known as Multi-Directional Impact Protection System (MIPS) can lessen the risk of concussion. Helmets that have MIPS have an inner layer that lessens the forces that cause trauma. Of the 30 helmets tested so far, only 4 of them have been awarded Virginia Tech’s top five-star rating, all of which had the MIPS technology. Of those four helmets, the prices ranged from $200 down to $75, so protecting your noggin doesn’t mean you have to break open the piggy bank. 

The evidence is also clear that any helmet is better than no helmet. There are many steps cyclists can take to protect themselves, but making sure that they are riding with the safest helmet possible is one that easily in our control. 

Illinois Law Does NOT Require Bicyclists to Wear Helmets

I have received a number of inquiries regarding whether or not Illinois law requires a bicyclist to wear a helmet. The answer is NO. In fact, there is no statute that even addresses the issue of helmets. Furthermore, there is no statewide legislation pending that would require to mandatory use of a helmet. The Insurance Institute of Highway safety has a website that breaks down the bicycle (and motorcycle) helmet laws throughout the country.

However, while there is no statewide law concerning helmets, some municipalities such as Barrington, Cicero, Inverness and Skokie require those under a certain age (16 or 17) to wear a helmet. Another exception is that bicycle messengers in Chicago must wear a safety helmet, as well as a safety vest or a brightly colored garment for the purpose of visibility.

Mandatory helmet laws are the subject of much debate. On the pro-helmet side is the argument that the state has to absorb the cost of health care for uninsured bicyclists who are injured when they are in an accident and do not have a helmet. The con-helmet side argues that mandatory laws would discourage people from riding bicycles and there is research that helmets do not actually lessen injuries.

Regardless of your position on the subject, my personal position (as a rider and a lawyer) is that wearing a helmet is a good idea. The costs of wearing a helmet (uncomfortable, unattractive) are far outweighed by the benefits (safety, protection).

Chicago's Helmet Lady Raises Awareness of Need for Helmets

Chicago's "Helmet Lady," Kathy Schubert of the Lincoln Park neighborhood has made it her personal mission to preach the practice of bicyclists wearing a helmet. (Read the June 8th Sun-Times article here).

The "Helmet Lady" is also an artist of sorts who has compiled a "Helmets that Saved Lives" website. This website shows photographs from riders who were involved in a bike accident and their helmet prevented injury by absorbing the impact. Best of all, the website shares the stories of the riders who were saved by their helmets. These stories involve individuals as disparate as weekend warriors and Lance Armstrong.

Illinois law does not require bicyclists to wear helmets. However, it is entirely possible that legislation could be enacted in Illinois. Within the past couple of years Illinois cyclists have seen changes in the Rules of the Road related to how to properly signal a turn, the lights required on a bicycle, and rights of bicyclists on the road. These legal changes demonstrate that the Illinois legislature (and local municipalities) are paying attention to bicyclists as the numbers of riders increase. Motorcycle riders throughout the United States saw an increase in legislation requiring them to wear a helmet for their own safety, and to reduce the medical care costs incurred by the States when uninsured riders needed medical care that would have been prevented by a helmet. If there is an increase in uninsured riders who suffer serious (and expensive) injuries while riding, it could be only a matter of time before bicyclists are required to wear a helmet.

There is no disputing the effectiveness of a bicycle helmet in preventing injury. There is an urban legend that helmets can cause an injury because of its awkward design. This is false and based on shoddy and unreliable science. To read a more reliable and scientific study see this New England Journal of Medicine study that concluded that bicycle helmets have a 85-89% effectiveness in reducing brain injuries, especially in children.

Then again, don't just trust the New England Journal of Medicine. Just ask the "Helmet Lady" or any of the riders who wrote her detailing how their helmet saved their head.