Motorcycle Helmet Vision and Hearing Study
In Texas, a high school golf coach was badly injured after his motorcycle collided with a pickup truck. He has been listed in critical condition, suffering from head injury, broken arms, legs, ribs, and a severe foot injury. The motorcycle accident allegedly occurred because the pickup driver failed to yield while merging onto the highway and did not see the motorcyclist. The motorcycle ran head-on into the driver’s side of the truck, causing significant external and internal injuries. The motorcyclist was not wearing his helmet, the pickup truck driver was not injured, and neither was speeding.
Helmet safety in relation to Missouri motorcycle injuries is always an issue of debate, as some states require helmet use where others do not, and some motorcyclists claim that helmets hinder their vision and hearing capabilities. The NHTSA sponsored a study of fifty motorcyclists of various ages and riding experiences to assess the abilities of motorcyclists wearing helmets. The study tests motorcyclists’ abilities:
- To visually detect the presence of vehicles in adjacent lanes before changing lanes; and
- To detect traffic sounds when operating at normal highway speeds.
The vision results showed that most riders recover the lateral field of view that may be lost by wearing a helmet, simply by turning their heads a little farther. Helmet use did not hamper the ability of riders to see traffic or increase the time needed to visually check for nearby traffic.
The hearing results showed there were no significant difference in riders’ ability to hear the auditory signals regardless of whether they were wearing a helmet or not. At higher speeds, wind noise obviously makes hearing more difficult in general, but the helmets did not affect hearing abilities. Overall, any possible drawbacks of helmet use are severely negated by the benefits in terms of the protection offered in the event of an accident.
Further, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), motorcycle helmets reduce the likelihood of crash fatality by 37 percent. Helmets are most important in preventing brain injuries; NHTSA statistics indicate that in the event of a motorcycle accident in Missouri and throughout the nation, motorcyclists not wearing a helmet are three times more likely to suffer brain injuries. Further, 65% of fatally injured motorcycle riders were not wearing a helmet in states without all-rider helmet laws as compared with only 13% in states with such laws.
As the percentage of helmet use has steadily declined over the past few years, it is important that you consider the major benefits of helmet use, as compared to possible reasons for not wanting to wear one. No reason can negate the fact that wearing a helmet is the most effective means, in your control, to ensure safety while riding a motorcycle.
As an experienced St. Louis motorcycle accident and personal injury lawyer, I am happy to discuss your case with you and answer any questions you may have. If requested, I will immediately alert our accident investigation team and begin taking the same action as the truck company and their insurance company.
The call and consultation are free. I can be reached 24 hours a day at 314.322.8515 or toll free at 1.800.500.INJURY (4658). Call me personally and I will answer all the questions and concerns you may have. There is no fee unless we recover for you.
If you don’t want to call or you can't call, you can email me at john@pagecagle.com. I look forward to speaking with you and helping you through these trying times. You can also visit my website, www.MotorcycleInjuryLawGroup.com for more information.
