One place to get the picture is on the site ride2die.com. Also a large picture of the same illustration in the book "Proficient Motorcycling" by David L. Hough. In the book the text about the illustration states "in a German study" so I reckon that is the source.

 

I didn't wear a helmet for many many years. But maybe it's me getting old or seeing victims on some of the accidents I have responded to (I am a volunteer firefighter\rescue) I started wearing a half shell about 2 years ago. I do believe a full face is better protection, so its a choice I make between comfort and safety. If you have ever worked on a fire dept or as an EMT, these helmet debates go away in your mind, at least they did for me as I saw the effects of not wearing one. I am for free choice, but I do not need stats to understand that both helmets and seat belts in autos save lives, it's rather obvious.

 

Obvious is right. I am all for freedom of choice too, and rode for years in a helmet required state. Now in Ohio its your choice and I usually go lidless. My wife has been in the ins ind. for many years and she always wears hers and constantly tells me I should. Stats support her opinion and the opinions of all my buds back in Michigan who raced bikes, including a couple of pros, all supported (and wore) full face lids due to the fact they protected you better in the areas where there is a difference between a 3/4 and full face lid. The one stat I have never seen with any accuracy is how many riders who crash while wearing lids, and survive, have much of life after they heal. At what speed do they actually protect not only your life, but your quality of life. Living as a veg in bed isn't my thing. At 70 mph will a helmet really make a diff? At 55? At 45?...etc.

 

You can make numbers and studies pretty well end up anyway the individual wants to. Either Govt. or people with an agenda, companies that want sales will slant things their way......I've been on a Fire Department Rescue Squad for car accidents for over 20 years and can tell you that there is no study that could tell you how people die, where they were sitting in the vehicle, what kind of car hit them, what counts as an accident..........simply.....there are too many variables.

 

Understood Jeff. My wife can dictate all sorts of statistics and of course they are slanted for the Ins industries benefit. I realize the enormity of trying to compile stats like that, but the quality of life issue has more to do with survival numbers than anything else, imho. In addition, speeds at which accidents occur also play a major factor. And conditions as well as circumstances play factors. Bottomline, the pros, the medical responders, nearly all say wear a helmet, and most of the pro riders say full face. That in and of itself should speak volumes.

Look at the odds even leaving other vehicles out of the equation. Tire failure, animal interaction, etc all can take you off your bike at driving speeds. Theres a reason a head is referred to as a melon.

 

Being in the guard, our insurance states that if you do not wear a helmet you are not covered. For this reason I wear a helmet. After my coworker hit a deer and I saw those pics, I am know looking for a comfortable full face helmet.

On the other hand, my hubby, who is also in the guard refuses to wear a helmet. Go figure. I gave up arguing with him.

I would like to know about the instances of a broken neck though, how often they happen and so on. I understand that other things come into play in the accident besides the helmet, but shouldn't there be stats on at least the mph thing?

 

Check this out, has it broken down quite a bit, just not helmet and speed.

http://www.webbikeworld.com/Motorcyc...ty/809-360.pdf

It is the 2001 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) study on motorcycle accidents.

 

linkee brokee

 

This isn't the result of a scientific study or anything, but if you are really curious....

On 3/22/75 I was a full time college student, in my senior year as a pre-law major. I was also the Asst. Mgr. at a Pizza Hut. That evening, well at 3 a.m. the next day actually, I closed the store and went home to bed. I got up at 5 a.m. and loaded my Suzuki into my truck and went out to compete in a desert race.

3 months later I awoke to find myself in a hospital bed. I asked my mother, who was sitting beside the bed, "why am I in a hospital?". She said "you had a motorcycle accident". I then asked "how's my Honda". I had a CB500, which was a really nice bike. My recovery is a long and possibly interesting story, but for brevity's sake I will only offer the high(?)lights.

I had lost 4 years of my life's memories, had to relearn to walk, talk, write, etc.. I was unable to return to my job at Pizza Hut, and my speech and writing weren't really good enough to pursue my goal of attending law school. After 3 years of recovery I returned to college, earned a degree in computer science, and worked as a programmer analyst.

My life turned out OK, but I would trade any of it over the last 34 years to be able to return to my life making pizzas, riding dirt bikes, and the social life I had back then. After you, at least I, became unable to do the things most people take for granted, my embarrassment caused me to push away my old friends and not really allow anybody new to get close to me.

You asked 'at what speed a helmet makes a difference'? I would only offer this, based on personal experience. A blow to your head can have effects you can't possibly imagine until it happens. And then it is too late to reconsider your choices. Wear a helmet, or don't, it doesn't concern me either way.

But consider this: A head injury can occur regardless of speed. And if that happens whatever job you currently do may be beyond your new capabilities. Of course it may be possible to be retrained for something you can do. You may not like it, I didn't really like working in an office, but sometimes there aren't a lot of options.

Afraid of "living as a veg"? I knew a guy that fell while mountain climbing. He went from being a boxer, army paratrooper, and a new cadet on the local police force to being a "veg". He couldn't talk, but he and I would play chess. That was really sad, a sharp mind in a body that was little more then a lumb of flesh. After a few months he had enough and used his police revolver to check out.

I realize this post will upset some people, I'm not sure if it scares them to hear about something that none of us would like to think about. But it is out there and the OP asked a question.

Ron

 

When He calls your number, I don't really think it matters much what kind of brain bucket or not you're wearing, my .02