While many motorcyclists feel that it should be their right to not wear a helmet, safety statistics show they they do in fact save lives. Indeed, those who become involved in motorcycle accidents and were not wearing helmets suffer from a much higher fatality rate than people who choose to wear protective headgear. While the issue of head protection might be a slippery slope when discussed amongst the biking community, the vast majority still grudgingly choose to wear a helmet. After all, when comparing modes of transportation, motorcycles are a much more dangerous option than cars, thus caution should be taken accordingly.

It has been estimated that the approximate number of motorcycle related deaths each year outweigh those from cars more than 37 times over. About 4000 motorcycle deaths are reported each year by the United States government, providing a sound argument for protecting one’s head before taking a joyride. Studies have shown that among these reported deaths, those who wore helmets were almost 30 percent less likely to suffer fatal or serious injuries when in an accident.

Helmets are designed for motorcycle safety to provide a similar semblance of safety compared to car seat-belts. It serves the wearer by padding the head, cushioning the brain and skull from a direct blow in the case of an accident. Unfortunately, like seat-belts, helmets are not 100 percent effective, although this reasoning is not enough to deter most people from utilizing proper head protection.

There are several different types of helmets which can be worn, each coming with pros and cons. Full-face helmets have been statistically proven to be the most effective, safest option. These protect both the head and the face completely when riding. The only drawback is that some riders report feeling too restricted from being completely encased in this type of headgear. Open-face helmets provide less protection than full-face helmets, although many riders who choose them do so because of the aforementioned issues of restriction. Finally, half-coverage helmets are the most dangerous, least effective type of headgear. While these helmets do not offer much protection aside from simply covering the skull-portion of the rider’s head, they are certainly better than being completely unprotected and most wearers argue that the complete freedom of not being bogged down by the half-coverage’s heavier counterpart makes it worth the risk.

Whichever type of helmet you decide to wear, just remember to be careful when going out for a ride. Ensuring the safety of yourselves and others when out on the road can go a long way in reducing vehicle related fatalities.