2.2 Need for Motorcycle Helmet
9
specifically the brain. Head injuries are one of the most dramatic forms of mechanical
trauma. Almost all head injuries occur near or in the central nervous system, which
is extremely dangerous to the well-being of the injured person. According to the
National Safety Council of the USA, the head was injured in 7% of all industrial
accidents and 8% of all farm accidents in 1971 [7]. In more than 70% of automobile
accidents, head injuries have been found to occur.
2.3 Motorcycle Helmet Regulations
Many countries have strict regulations relating to the use of helmets by motorcyclists.
These laws vary considerably depending upon the country. Many countries have
their own sets of standards that are used to determine the effectiveness of motorcycle
helmets; some of the standards are AS 1698 (Australia), CSA CAN3-D230-M85
(Canada), JIS T8133 (Japan), NZ 5430 (New Zealand), ECE 22.05 (Europe), DOT
FMVSS 218 (United States of America), ANSI Z90.1 (United States of America),
BS 6658:1985 (Britain), BIS 4151-1982, ISO/R 1511, Snell M 2005 (United States
of America) [8].
There is a great deal of pioneering research in the field of motorcycle helmets,
although the history of the helmet is very brief. Hugh Cairns [9] was one of the
neurosurgeons who operated on Colonel TE Lawrence, who was fatally injured in a
motorcycle accident in the early 1930s and was not wearing a helmet at the time of the
accident. Cairns decided to investigate, analyse and solve the problem of head trauma
prevention in motorcyclists. Cairns and Holbourn [10] also carried out a statistical
survey of motorcycle accidents and the associated morbidity and mortality. Cairns
[11] showed that wearing a crash helmet would enable considerable saving of life
and time spent in hospitals but, before this, helmet effectiveness was anecdotal,
and helmet design was based on intuition and armourers’ lore. Cairns also gave an
account of the investigation of over 100 motorcyclist fatalities in which 92% had
head injuries and 66% had multiple injuries. He did not discover the crash helmet,
but he demonstrated conclusively that helmets reduce the risk of serious head injuries
and the value of crash helmets for head protection.
The motorcycle helmet has been in use for the last five decades, and the general
trend is for a large amount of research to be done in relation to its protective ability
in case of an accident, and good fit and thermal comfort, so that the motorcyclist
is willing to wear the helmet based on the protection and comfort it provides. Most
of the earlier research on motorcycle helmets appeared to utilise a trial and error
approach within the helmet industry.
9
specifically the brain. Head injuries are one of the most dramatic forms of mechanical
trauma. Almost all head injuries occur near or in the central nervous system, which
is extremely dangerous to the well-being of the injured person. According to the
National Safety Council of the USA, the head was injured in 7% of all industrial
accidents and 8% of all farm accidents in 1971 [7]. In more than 70% of automobile
accidents, head injuries have been found to occur.
2.3 Motorcycle Helmet Regulations
Many countries have strict regulations relating to the use of helmets by motorcyclists.
These laws vary considerably depending upon the country. Many countries have
their own sets of standards that are used to determine the effectiveness of motorcycle
helmets; some of the standards are AS 1698 (Australia), CSA CAN3-D230-M85
(Canada), JIS T8133 (Japan), NZ 5430 (New Zealand), ECE 22.05 (Europe), DOT
FMVSS 218 (United States of America), ANSI Z90.1 (United States of America),
BS 6658:1985 (Britain), BIS 4151-1982, ISO/R 1511, Snell M 2005 (United States
of America) [8].
There is a great deal of pioneering research in the field of motorcycle helmets,
although the history of the helmet is very brief. Hugh Cairns [9] was one of the
neurosurgeons who operated on Colonel TE Lawrence, who was fatally injured in a
motorcycle accident in the early 1930s and was not wearing a helmet at the time of the
accident. Cairns decided to investigate, analyse and solve the problem of head trauma
prevention in motorcyclists. Cairns and Holbourn [10] also carried out a statistical
survey of motorcycle accidents and the associated morbidity and mortality. Cairns
[11] showed that wearing a crash helmet would enable considerable saving of life
and time spent in hospitals but, before this, helmet effectiveness was anecdotal,
and helmet design was based on intuition and armourers’ lore. Cairns also gave an
account of the investigation of over 100 motorcyclist fatalities in which 92% had
head injuries and 66% had multiple injuries. He did not discover the crash helmet,
but he demonstrated conclusively that helmets reduce the risk of serious head injuries
and the value of crash helmets for head protection.
The motorcycle helmet has been in use for the last five decades, and the general
trend is for a large amount of research to be done in relation to its protective ability
in case of an accident, and good fit and thermal comfort, so that the motorcyclist
is willing to wear the helmet based on the protection and comfort it provides. Most
of the earlier research on motorcycle helmets appeared to utilise a trial and error
approach within the helmet industry.