Motorcycle accidents without helmets

There can be no denying the fact that helmets contribute in a large measure in preventing injuries during motorcycle accidents. In a vast majority of motorcycle accidents motorcycle riders who were not wearing a helmet at the time of accident tend to end up with serious head injuries.

Helmets can not only save your head, more importantly they can save your life and the lives of others.

 A recent study by the USC (University of Southern California) with funds from the NHTSA (National Highway Traffic safety administration) has focused on the effectiveness of helmets in preventing injuries consequent to motorcycle accidents. It is important however that a helmet that conforms to DOT standards is used. There are many helmets available at cheaper prices that claim to conform to the prescribed standards but often times do not. Considering the grave risk to which the motorcycle riders are exposed to, it is worthwhile investing that extra bit of money into a gear that will indeed keep you protected when you need it most.

 Choosing the right helmet

 The best protection is provided by a full face helmet since it fully covers your face and comes with a face shield that protects your eyes. Moving the shield when you need to, is not difficult because it can be achieved with a one hand operation. Open-face helmets on the other hand do not afford complete protection as compared to the full face helmet. However, you can choose a face shield that snaps on and buy a pair of goggles capable of withstanding the impact from a stone. Do understand that sunglasses or other ordinary glasses cannot perform the desired function since they tend to fly off or move from a fixed position. Half shell helmets which are generally used at civil construction sites or other shop floors do not afford any protection to motorcycle riders and can potentially fly off while cruising at higher speeds.

 Higher price does not mean more protection

 Irrespective of the price you pay for the helmet, it is important that the gear conforms to certain minimum standards of safety. A SNELL or DOT sticker is often the easiest means of reassuring yourself that you are investing into a dependable gear for your motorcycle cruises.

Apart from the use of appropriate helmets, the following tips will help you prevent motorcycle accidents and consequential injuries.

• Lack of experience and appropriate training have been among the major causes for motorcycle accidents. Get appropriate training to protect yourself.
• Drunken driving increases the chances of an accident when you are riding a motorcycle.
• Conspicuity or visibility of the motorcycle for other road users is important in avoiding accidents. Wearing bright colored jackets such as red, green, blue and yellow increases the visibility of your motor cycle for other road users.
• Blind spots of other vehicles obstruct visibility..Always try to stick to a visible line
•  Wear appropriate protective gears for your eyes and face
• Be a responsible motorcycle rider and follow the rules of the road
• Nearly 50% of motorcycle accidents have been caused by over speeding.
• Beware of road conditions particularly when you are going on long rides. Unexpected potholes and heavy objects can pose grave danger.
• Switch on your headlights even during the day. This increases the visibility of your motorcycle for other road users.
• Additional passengers invariably sit behind the rider on a motorcycle
• Unless you are a skilled rider yourself, never allow another person to ride with you.
• Passengers riding with you shall invariably keep their feet on the footrest and nowhere else. This will help in preventing burns from the exhaust and/or getting caught in the wheels.