I came across an interesting article regarding motorcycle helmet ratings in the US. One that I must say surprised me!
Seasoned riders know that wearing a helmet statistically increases our chances of survival if in an accident by 37% according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Most of us cover our heads with a full face variety with some using a 3/4 helmet, but for the most part, every rider friend I have wears a protective helmet all the time, whether or not required by law.
Sorting out differences in helmet standards is often confusing and and a bit misleading unless you really follow the standards.
We, the consumers have always assumed that a Snell-compliant helmet is safer — an assumption that is not agreed upon by researchers. Oct. 1, helmets meeting a new Snell test, M2010, with revised force limits, can go on sale, probably adding to the confusion among helmet shoppers.
“The conflict is between scientists and helmet designers who prefer the government-mandated helmet standards of the United States and Europe, up against the current Snell standard, called M2005, which Snell says provides “premium levels of protective performance.”
Why is this a concern, considering that the new M2010 standard — a major revision that addresses some of the objections scientists and helmet makers have raised for decades. It stems from the fact that the Snell Foundation will continue to certify helmets made under the Snell M2005 standard until March 31, 2012. There are now hundreds of thousands of pre-M2010 Snell helmets on rider’s heads, in garages and on retailer’s shelves, and hundreds of thousands more that will be made in coming years — which means that riders, especially those with smaller heads, will have to pay close attention when buying a helmet.
James A. Newman, a former director of the Snell Memorial Foundation has estimated an impact of 200 to 250 g’s to the head corresponds to a severe brain injury, that a 250 to 300g impact corresponds to a critical injury, and that a hit over 300 g’s is often not survivable.”
For more info on gforce ratings
see the entire article.
“In one comprehensive study of real-world impact performance based on research done for Motorcyclist Magazine, presented by Mr. Thom to the Motorcycle Safety Foundation, a $79.95 helmet certified to Transportation Department standards performed the best of the 32 tested, withstanding the most violent hits while transmitting as much as 67 g’s less impact force to the headform than a $400 Snell-certified helmet.”
Well that statement certainly gives me pause as I pass my $400 Snell certified Shoei helmet in the garage next to Gary’s $100 Zeus helmet! And here I gave him a hard time for buying such a cheap one!!