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At one exhibition organised by RMP on accidents, I saw photos of many accidents involving motorcyclists who co-incidentally wore helmets.

One fine day, I read a news report about an accident somewhere involving a car where the poor old driver and his passenger drown with the seat belts still fastened. It was said that may be they had failed to unfasten their seat belts to escape from death.

Learning to respect the law is one thing but learning to accept fate is another thing...

Dara Waheda Mohd Rufin

I would be deeply surprised if any doctor or nurse who has treated motorcycle accident victims said that safety helmets do not make a difference in the case of an accident. Anyone seriously contemplating riding a motorcycle without one clearly cannot afford any further brain damage.

David Soong Tshon Li

Wearing a helmet is indispensable

Imagine world cricketers batting on fields without wearing helmets? You would think they are either out of their minds or are dare devils. It is not any different for motorcycle riders either.

You may find it very cumbersome to wear helmets. Every time somebody insists on your wearing one, you may think it is a waste of time. You may feel that accidents can never happen to you. If you are a safe rider then why worry?

Riding a bike at 55 kmph means you are moving at 49 feet per second. It is the speed at which you would hit the ground, if you were to jump from the fourth floor of a building. You may have a million excuses for not protecting yourself with a helmet. But this is reason enough for all those arguments to do a vanishing act. A little care can save your life.

How does a helmet work?

A helmet works exactly like your skull. Made from fibreglass and thermoplastic it acts like a shell for protecting your brain. The inside of a helmet is lined with expanded polystyrene (EPS) of controlled density. When the helmet is struck with a hard surface, the inner lining acts as a buffer and absorbs the shock. It bears the sudden change in energy and pressure and keeps the skull intact. The EPS may crush but it still protects the skull.

When the skull is hit it moves towards the brain, leading to brain damage. The helmet, by buffering the impact of shock and dissipating the energy, prevents the skull from causing an impact on the brain. In 2007, the Mumbai Traffic Police registered over 7 lakh cases of bike accidents. In the US, close to 5000 people were killed in bike accidents, 60 per cent of whom were not wearing a helmet. The deadliest injuries occurred on the head and the chest. The ones who were helmeted prevented possible critical head and facial injuries.

What makes a good helmet?

A good helmet is one that promotes your safety. Ensure that you check for these features:

The outer shell of a good helmet must be made of fiberglass or thermoplastic. EPS is the best energy absorbent and is a must for helmets.
Look for a strong chinstrap. Nylon or Tyrelene are the best. The chinstraps must be secured to the shell by steel anchor plates.
Fastening by double 'D' rings, bars & buckles or an all metal clasps is also safe. Copper or brass is the best for fixing anchor plates to the shell.

At the end of the day, if you die instantly from the impact, well and good. You are not going to burden your family anymore, but what if you suffer from brain damage and live like a vegetable for the next 10, 20 or 30 years?

To be religious is one thing, but to be stupid is another.

Siti Zabedah Kasim