A quality bicycle helmet, along with defensive bicycling techniques, can reduce your risk of debilitating head injuries. According to the Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute, or BHSI, there is no federal law in the United States requiring you to use a bicycle helmet while riding your bike. However, various states and municipalities began adopting helmet laws in 1987, primarily for children and teenagers under the age of 18. Bicycle helmet requirements---or the qualities you should look for in a bicycle helmet---are universal.
Meets Safety Standards
According to BHSI, you should only purchase a bicycle helmet if it's certified by a safety standards commission. A sticker inside the helmet typically will tell you what standard the helmet meets. Helmets made for United States consumers must meet the safety standards established and enforced by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Other standards for bicycle helmets are established by the American National Standards Institute and the Snell Memorial Foundation. Your bicycle helmet should be constructed of expanded polystyrene foam, due to its ability to protect your head during an impact. Also, you should never use a helmet that's already been involved in a crash, as the structural integrity of that helmet may be compromised.
Fits Snugly on Your Head
For optimal protection, your helmet should fit your head snugly, without wiggle room from side to side or front to back. The Mayo Clinic states that a bicycle helmet only works if you wear it correctly. If your helmet tilts forward or backward when your chin strap is secured, your helmet is probably too big. Some helmets come with sizing pads that allow you to create a snug fit to optimize your safety and reduce your risk of head injuries during a crash. With your chin strap fastened underneath your chin, your helmet should sit flat on the top of your head and you should not be able to move your helmet more than 1 inch in any direction. Note that the fit of your helmet is not certified by any standard, so you need to test the helmet on your own head to ensure a proper and safe fit.
Affords You Optimal Visibility
Your bicycle helmet should afford you optimal visibility, both in how easily motorists and other pedestrians see you and how you see your surroundings. According to the University of California-Berkeley's Foundations of Wellness newsletter, you should choose a brightly colored bicycle helmet to help improve your odds of being seen while cycling among motorists. A bicycle helmet that affords you optimal visibility does not impede your vision in any way. If your helmet straps obscure your vision to any degree, or if your visor reduces your peripheral vision, consider buying a different helmet. Like your helmet's fit, your visor is not tested for its ability to withstand a crash or avoid snags. To ensure your safety and promote optimal visibility, consider purchasing a helmet whose visor can be easily removed.
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