Why Do We Need To Wear A Bicycle Helmet?

Bicycle helmets may not make the greatest fashion statement. They can feel bulky, and very hot on a summer day. But they are crucial for cyclists of any age or experience level. Cyclists should wear helmets on every outing, including casual loops around the block, or trips up and down the sidewalk. The consequences of not wearing a helmet can be fatal.

Deaths

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that in 2008, 716 cyclists in the United States died in bike accidents. Collisions between cyclists and motor vehicles caused nearly 76 percent of these deaths, while falls caused the remaining deaths. All cyclists, according to the traffic safety administration, should wear a helmet every time they take their bike on the road or on the trail.

Catastrophic Brain Injuries

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration says that head injuries account for 62 percent of cyclist deaths, but death isn’t the only consequence of failing to wear a helmet. Many more people suffer severe brain trauma injuries while riding a bicycle without a helmet. When a bike suddenly stops its forward progress at high speeds—such as when the front wheel is caught in a street drain—a cyclist can be thrown, head first, at a tremendous rate of speed. A head injury is almost a certainty unless the rider wears an approved cycling helmet

Visibility

Helmets also aid visibility. While large, brightly colored safety helmets may not look “cool,” they can help draw the attention of drivers of motor vehicles. Many accidents between bikers and motor vehicles result because the driver simply doesn’t notice the cyclist, according to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration. A neon yellow bike helmet can help make certain the driver behind you sees you.

Aerodynamics

Airflow causes drag on speed cycling racers when it goes over them. Therefore, they began wearing aerodynamic helmets to cut down on the “drag.” If speed biking or racing is your passion, a sloped helmet can shave seconds off your race. Cutting air drag by wearing a helmet also makes casual cycling less tiresome in open, windy areas.

Sign of Responsibility

Many cyclists believe that only fools and amateurs don’t wear a bike helmet. Wearing a helmet sends a subtle signal to other bikers on the trails, and to motor vehicle drivers on the road, that you are concerned with your safety and you are a responsible, careful cyclist. That very subtle signal can increase the trust factor between you and the people around you on your ride.

Safety Gear

A helmet is also a handy space to attach a rear-view mirror device. A helmet-mounted mirror that is adjusted to show you what’s coming up from behind—with just a glance of your eye—is often more practical and safer than a mirror on your handlebars. Having a mirror on your helmet means you have a good view, no matter what the position of your head.