Bicycle Helmets
Bicycle helmets are an extremely important part of the overall equipment needed to both keep you safe and secure on the road or on a mountain bike trail. When you are on the road — yes! you are also a vehicle and carry the same rights and responsibilities as any other vehicle. As such you need to be familiar with your local state and municiple laws as they pertain to the use of helmets.
Currently in the US, 21 states have instituted helmet laws (per the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety www.iihs.org). Here is a view on that:
(source: http://www.iihs.org/laws/mapbicyclehelmets.aspx)
Here you can find the table of the US States and applicable bicycle helmet laws;
Now, having said all this, let's also look at the more practical sde of things — bicycle helmets provide safety. Here is the reason why we say that — i.e. just look at the statistics also from iihs.org:
Year | No helmet use | Helmet use | Unknown | Total | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | |
1994 | 776 | 97 | 19 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 796 | 100 |
1995 | 783 | 95 | 34 | 4 | 11 | 1 | 828 | 100 |
1996 | 731 | 96 | 27 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 761 | 100 |
1997 | 785 | 97 | 23 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 811 | 100 |
1998 | 741 | 98 | 16 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 757 | 100 |
1999 | 698 | 93 | 42 | 6 | 10 | 1 | 750 | 100 |
2000 | 622 | 90 | 50 | 7 | 17 | 2 | 689 | 100 |
2001 | 616 | 84 | 60 | 8 | 53 | 7 | 729 | 100 |
2002 | 589 | 89 | 54 | 8 | 20 | 3 | 663 | 100 |
2003 | 535 | 85 | 58 | 9 | 33 | 5 | 626 | 100 |
2004 | 602 | 83 | 87 | 12 | 33 | 5 | 722 | 100 |
2005 | 676 | 86 | 77 | 10 | 31 | 4 | 784 | 100 |
2006 | 730 | 95 | 37 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 769 | 100 |
2007 | 646 | 92 | 50 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 699 | 100 |
2008 | 654 | 91 | 59 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 716 | 100 |
2009 | 573 | 91 | 52 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 628 | 100 |
2010 | 429 | 70 | 94 | 15 | 93 | 15 | 616 | 100 |
2011 | 450 | 67 | 100 | 15 | 125 | 19 | 675 | 100 |
(Source: http://www.iihs.org/research/fatality.aspx?topicName=Bicycles)
So now that you are very convinced that a bicycle helmet is a necessary and a good thing to have, let's look how to select one. The criteria / steps involved are the following:
1) Start with choosing a helmet that fits snugly. You may be able to use adjustments that many helmets come with to loosen up the frame that makes the helmet fit. Many helmets come with a small wheel in the frame that loosens up or make it tighter in fit. The point being the helmet should not rock sideways or back and forth on your head
2) the edge of the helment should be about 2 fingers from the top of your eyebrows; This way it will provide protection for your forehead;
3) Adjust the straps — as stated earlier when you strap the helmet it should fit flat on your head, you should feel the helmet pulling tightly in your head when you open your mouth with the straps clipped. You should not be able to fit more than 2 finger (next to each other) between your chin and the straps
And of course you can always look for help in making the helmet purchase from your local bicycle shop!
Happy riding!