Does Wearing A Helmet Save Your Life?

Of course, it does!  Let’s take a quick look at the benefits of wearing a helmet

It’s a well-known fact that most motorcycle related accidents which result in fatalities are due to traumatic head injuries. In fact, a recent study published by the NHSTA (the US Government’s National Highway Safety Administration), the 2016 fatal crash data has shown that motorcyclists are 28 times more likely to die in road accidents when compared to other vehicle users. Now granted that these numbers might not match up exactly to the number of two-wheeler road fatalities in India, it does paint a fairly clear picture. 

With the Pune Police set to implement a mandatory helmet rule from January 1, 2019, citizens of Pune along with NGOs and businessmen have already started protests against it. Pune Mirror quoted NCP leader Ankush Kakade saying, “We are strictly against the imposition of this helmet compulsion. This will create huge inconvenience to the riders. Why is there a need for helmets when the speed of vehicles within city limits is not more than 20-25kmph?”.

Granted, there are citizens that ride/drive at speeds not exceeding 25kmph in a 40kmph speed zone, but what they fail to understand is that accidents don’t necessarily occur at high speeds. There are instances where people have suffered from fatal head injuries even by falling off a two-wheeler at speeds as low as 20kmph. Furthermore, there have been many cases where riders have lost control of their two-wheelers due to pothole-ridden roads, something that India is famous for. Last but not least, not everyone rides at 20-25kmph, the consequences of which were 98 two-wheeler users riding without a helmet losing their lives per day in 2017.

Needless to say, we stand by Pune Police’s latest decision as it’ll help save lives at a fraction of the cost. Here’s why wearing one is important and how it could save your life.

Protects Against Head Injuries 

According to doctors, unlike other parts of the body, any brain injury is irreversible. Moreover, even if the patient does manage to survive, a brain injury will have a catastrophic effect on the person’s livelihood. 

Use of a good helmet, on the other hand, can reduce the risk of serious brain damage by up to 88%, as per studies. If that’s not a good enough reason to use one, we don’t know what is.

It Saves You Money

A good helmet costs anywhere between Rs 1000 to Rs 6000. Head-related accidents could cause brain-related complications, the surgery for which could cost well above Rs 2 lakh.

Fighting the elements

Not only does a helmet protect your head, but it also protects your head/face from dust, dirt, and debris. It even provides better visibility and safety during rain. Additionally, a good fitting helmet can improve the rider’s ability to hear as it reduces wind noise, which in turn allows for more important information to flow through.

Visibility Factor

There are cases where accidents have occurred because a driver failed to notice a motorcyclist in poorly lit conditions. A bright coloured helmet with reflective stickers may prevent such a situation. 

Helps One Focus

There’s a myth that helmets are like horse blinders as it restricts the rider’s vision. But that’s not the case as most helmets, especially DOT-compliant, ones are required to provide at least 210-degree vision. That’s more than the human peripheral vision, which is roughly 180 degrees. 

All in all, helmets are absolutely crucial for your safety and we urge each and everyone one of you to wear one. If you don’t own one, we’d suggest you head to your nearest motorcycle gear store and get a good quality lid for yourself. Agreed, good quality helmets are expensive, but they are a fraction of the cost when compared to hospital bills one is likely to rake up in case of a road accident. The benefits far outweigh the costs and risk!