Used Motorcycle Helmets Jeopardise Lives
The necessity of wearing a motorcycle helmet when riding a motorbike is essentially a no-brainer
, regardless of the fact that it also happens to be the law. Accidents are regrettably far too common, as demonstrated by Department of Transportation statistics showing there were 21,550 reported motorcycle casualties in 2008, and bikers need all the protection they can get. Even if you are of the school of thought that thinks wearing a helmet is restrictive and uncomfortable, it is reckless to ignore the life saving potential helmets provide.
The utmost safety of you and your bike is vitally important. Just as you would not, or at least certainly should not, neglect protective measures such as regularly maintaining your bike, exercising vigilance when you ride and ensuring you have adequate bike insurance covering mishaps to both you and your bike, you should not ride without first donning protective gear.
When it comes to protective gear, most important of all is a good quality helmet, since what you are wearing on your head could be the difference between life or death, brain damage or a minor concussion, severe head and facial injuries or walking away unscathed. So, not only should your helmet meet acceptable safety standards - in other words be compliant with British Standard BS 6658:1985 or UNECE Regulation 22.05 - it is crucial you ensure it also fits correctly.
In the unfortunate event of a crash, maximum protection is key and that means having motorcycle insurance that includes personal effects and legal coverage, and the benefit of a well-fitting helmet that cushions your head properly against the impact it is going to receive. Additionally, not only would a poorly fitting helmet offer inadequate protection, wearing one that moves around on your head while you ride is only going to create a distraction and ruin your enjoyment of the ride.
Equally important as a well-fitting regulation helmet is to your safety, so too is an undamaged one. Once a helmet is damaged, its benefit as protective gear becomes worthless, so it is advisable that you replace your helmet if it has sustained a knock and that you never buy a second hand helmet.
A huge problem with buying a used helmet is that you do not know its history and even if it looks in good condition, it does not necessarily mean it is. Safety-approved helmets are designed to absorb an impact, so outwardly a helmet may not appear damaged when in fact it is. Since a person selling a used helmet may not necessarily be completely honest, you have no way of knowing whether the helmet is even safe, hence the importance of only buying a new helmet.
Even if you have budgetary issues, saving a few pounds by buying a used helmet instead of a new one is extremely unwise since it is your life and brain's protection on the line. If the inner polystyrene layer has been compromised, which is a distinct possibility with used helmets, your head will not be protected in a crash. A helmet does not even need to be in an accident for the inner cushion to be compromised, since even dropping a helmet can be enough to make it ineffective. For all you know, a helmet's owner could be selling it because he or she dropped it and knows it needs to be replaced, meaning whoever ends up buying it will unwittingly endanger their life whenever they wear it.
Another point in favour of only buying a new helmet is that its age and safety rating is not going to be an issue, whereas a used helmet could well be an older model that does not meet current safety standards, or it could simply be too old. Helmets, particularly the inner layer, become brittle over time and thus lose their value as protective gear, which is why motorcycle riders are advised to replace their helmets every few years, and chances are that if you buy a used helmet you could end up with one that is well past its prime.
Additionally, care is required when storing helmets, and with used helmets there is no telling how well or otherwise they have been treated. Damage can occur if helmets are left out in the sun, placed close to the gas tank or hung on a sharp object that inadvertently pierces the inner layer, and since the damage may not be outwardly visible, you take too large a risk trusting that a used helmet has not been treated carelessly.
Quite simply, although it may cheaper to buy a used helmet, those saved pounds are not worth jeopardising your safety and protection: the extra money you spend to buy a new helmet will be money well spent.
by: Neil M Roberts
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