Do you wear a full-face helmet, or an open-face helmet? A new helmet by Icon called the Airframe Statistic is a sobering look at the probability of each part of your helmet taking an impact in the event of a crash.
The helmet’s graphics divide it up like a butcher would into sections and it’s obvious that those who don’t wear a full face helmet are risking their lower jaw in 35% of all crashes. If you take the whole face area, it becomes 55%. If you need any more convincing for why a full-face helmet is essential, do a quick search in Google images. It’s not for the squeamish.
The statistics come from a 1981 report called Motorcycle Accident Cause Factors and Identification of Countermeasures, Volume 1: Technical Report. It’s called the Hurt Report for short, after its primary author, Professor H H Hurt. The report outlined 55 main findings about why motorbike accidents occur, and what the results are. The report was generated in America and as we drive on the left in the UK, the statistics on either side of the helmet could possibly be swapped. Americans also are not required by law to wear helmets, so some of the report deals with injuries sustained by lack of protective headgear and eyewear.
However, one finding is particularly important: Increased coverage of the full facial coverage helmet increases protection and significantly reduces face injuries.
Unless you know an excellent plastic surgeon, or are prepared to be disfigured for life, perhaps it’s time to change from that open-face helmet.