IMPORTANCE OF WEARING HELMETS

Understanding the importance of helmets has become a need of life. Almost every day, we come to know about news of accidents through different mediums. Riders not wearing helmets get trapped in unforeseen circumstances. Statistically, 30% of bike accidents solely happened due to non-usage of helmets.

The percentage can be reduced when people get to know how necessary it is to wear a helmet while driving. It's not a burden on the head, but protection to the head.

 

 

In case of any accident, health insurance companies deny the claims for bikers who were not wearing helmets.

As per the Motor Vehicle Act in India, a person above 4 years of age should wear a helmet on a bike ride. Encouraging people to opt for a helmet while driving can make a difference. Today, we are going to talk about the advantages of helmets during the bike ride. Let’s start to understand this in-depth.

 

Benefits of Wearing a Helmet While Riding

Negligence in wearing a helmet while driving can be dangerous to life. Moreover, riders meeting to road accidents cannot get a bike insurance claim.  Here are some more benefits of wearing helmets.

Saves You From Traffic Fine

Wearing helmets has been made compulsory in some areas by law. Riding a bike without a helmet may be a cause of hefty fines. Going against the law may also result in legal consequences. So, it’s better to save your existence with a helmet and conserve your expenses.

Protection to the Head and Brain

Primarily, the use of a helmet secures you from getting head injuries. The rigid outer shell of the helmet keeps your head safe in case of any collision. Riders drive bikes fast, helmets prevent them from severe head scratches on falling or crashing incidents.

Improve Visibility

You must have noticed the diversity in helmets. Different helmet styles and colours make the other riders on the road aware. In short, wearing helmets enhances visibility. It is essential when you are riding at night. In dusky or low-light situations, putting on a helmet may keep you safe from all aspects.

Protection Against Road Debris

On a bike ride, debris like stones, insects, or branches influences your focus. Sometimes, small insects, dust, or any object may hit your head or eyes. Disturbance while driving could cause an accident. Completing your look with a helmet can avoid these circumstances.

High-Speed Air

Airflow gets increased on speeding up the bike. Blowing a strong wind through the drive affects your driving balance. Owing to this, messed hairs also get into your eyes, and block your vision. This can cause an accident. Having a helmet can bypass these possibilities and prevent you from an unpleasant event.

Sun Protection

Sunrays affect the driver’s vision as they cannot see the roads. Additionally, they are unable to judge the traffic signals. Reducing visibility may lead to an accident. Due to continuous contact, eye strain impacts your driving potential. Helmet is the only solution to overcome these odds.

 

Tips for Selecting a Good Helmet

A helmet is not introduced for styling only. But it’s a necessary accessory for safety purposes. Numerous helmet brands are available in the market now. The main types of motorcycle helmet are

• Full face
• Open Face
• Modular and
• Off-road helmet

Picking a helmet is not that simple. It’s a practical decision that one has to make. All the mentioned types may confuse you. You just need to check whether your choice of helmet aligns with the following criteria. 

 

Check Safety Certification

You will be surprised to know that motorcycle helmets have to undergo a process of certification. It determines the helmet’s quality. Some companies provide proof of the quality of the helmet.

The organizations that certify helmets are the Department of Transportation (DOT), the Economic Commission of Europe (ECE), and the SNELL Memorial Foundation. Verifying these certifications makes your safety a sure thing.

Check ISI Mark

The ISI mark on the helmet represents its caliber. Its manufacturing satisfies the safety standards and is capable of delivering enough protection. The helmet with the ISI mark has passed the resistance tests.

Riders can faithfully complete the purchase of ISI-marked helmets. The quality helmet stipulates the safety grades according to the country’s rules and regulations. Using helmets without ISI marks is illegal and may result in penalties.

Check Best Fit & Comfort

As we see, helmets come in different sizes and are heavy-weight products. So while selecting the helmet, you need to try it once. It must fit your size of head without compromising comfort. You can measure head size with the help of measuring tape. Helmets shouldn't be too tight or too loose. Check pressure points that could cause discomfort.

Proper Ventilation

Sweat inside the helmet may feel uncomfortable to the rider. It packs from head to neck and so may affect your breathing.

When you try a helmet before shopping, it's essential to check its vents. After wearing it, proper ventilation for breathing must be there. For long rides, airflow and ventilation protect from fogging or overheating. Many helmets have prebuilt adjustable vents. You can look for it.

Proper Visibility

Sometimes, riders fail to recognize the road or weather conditions. Visors are the key part integrated within the helmet. Protecting the rider's eyes from dust and UV rays is its prime objective. Anti-fog helmet visor ensures the higher visibility of roads and obstacles.

Quality helmet visors allow you to ride with clear vision. At night and daytime, you can adjust them accordingly. Proper visibility through a helmet expands your comfort level while driving.

Consider Weight

The outer shell makes the helmet heavier. Weighted helmets could create discomfort to the neck. Choosing lighter in weight reduces this strain. So, it's more relaxing to ride a bike for the long run.

The weight of the helmet depends on the type of material used. Fiber helmets comprise low weight. Polycarbonate helmets are heavier than that of fiberglass, but promises to deliver the best quality.

Adults and children’s helmets are available in various sizes and weights. The ideal helmet weight for adults ranges from 1.2 to 1.4 KG.