Author: John Lloyd—BRAINS, Inc
Abstract
This study presents an analysis of 328 motorcycle helmet impact tests, including standard certified full-face, open-face, and half-helmets, as well as novelty (non-certified) helmet designs. Several advanced motorcycle helmet designs that incorporate technologies intended to mitigate the risk of rotational brain injuries (rTBI) were included in this study.
Results were compared to the unprotected condition using an instrumented 50th percentile Hybrid III head form and neck at impact speeds ranging from 6 to 18 m/s (13 to 40 mph). Results show that Head Injury Criterion (HIC) was reduced, on average, by 93 percent across certified helmets indicating substantial protection against focal head and brain injuries. However, testing indicates that standard motorcycle helmets increase the risk of rotational brain injuries, including concussion, diffuse axonal injury, and subdural hematoma by about 19 percent compared to the unprotected condition. Whereas, for the advanced helmets we saw a 14 to 31% reduction in risk compared to unhelmeted tests.
Findings of this study also indicate a critical methodological deficiency in the oblique impact tests utilized in revised motorcycle helmet standards, including ECE 22.06, Snell M2025 and FRHPe-02, which fail to properly assess rTBI risk. Recommendations for improving motorcycle helmet design to enhance protection against rotational traumatic brain injuries are included within the scope of this paper.
Type: Full Paper