The Importance of Wearing a Good Bicycle Helmet
I am listing all of the Consumer Reports top rated bike helmets for adults and kids.
Contents
10 Great Reasons to Wear a Helmet
- There are 85 million bicycle riders in the US. Most of them will fall at some point.
- 770 bicyclists died on US roads in 2006, down just 14 from the year before. Over 90 percent died in crashes with motor vehicles.
- The "typical" bicyclist killed on our roads is a sober male over 16 not wearing a helmet riding on a major road between intersections in an urban area on a summer evening when hit by a car.
- About 540,000 bicyclists visit emergency rooms with injuries every year. Of those, about 67,000 have head injuries, and 27,000 have injuries serious enough to be hospitalized.
- Bicycle crashes and injuries are under-reported, since the majority are not serious enough for emergency room visits. 44,000 cyclists were reported injured in traffic crashes in 2006.
- 1 in 8 of the cyclists with reported injuries has a brain injury.
- Two-thirds of the bicycling deaths are from traumatic brain injury.
- A very high percentage of cyclists' brain injuries can be prevented by a helmet, estimated at anywhere from 45 to 88 per cent.
- Direct costs of cyclists' injuries due to not using helmets are estimated at $81 million each year.
- Indirect costs of cyclists' injuries due to not using helmets are estimated at $2.3 billion each year!
The Proper Way to Wear a Helmet
What Makes a Good Helmet?
Also, what makes a good fit?
The helmet must meat national impact and safety standards. Make sure your helmet comes with a national safety label, such as the Snell Helmet Safety Standards insignia or the more common (in the USA) Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) accreditation.The helmet should fit snuggly on your head, yet be comfortable. It should NOT be tilted back at an angle!
It also should not obstruct your field of vision.
Another consideration is the amount of vents available, to keep your head cool. Generally, the more the merrier.
Tips for Buying a Bicycle : Helmet Safety for Bicycle Riding
Helmets for Adults
Bell Citi
Bell Slant
Giro Atmos
Giro Atmos Racing Bike Helmet
Amazon Price: (as of 07/06/2009)
List Price: $174.95
Avg. Customer Rating: 
More Adult Helmets
Helmets for Kids
Bell Trigger
Bell Trigger Youth Bike Helmet
Amazon Price: (as of 07/06/2009)
List Price: $34.99
Avg. Customer Rating: 
Louis Garneau 2008/09 Ruckus Children's/Youth Cycling Helmet - 1405725
Amazon Price: (as of 07/06/2009)
List Price:
Avg. Customer Rating: 
Helmets for Toddlers
Bell Boomerang Infant/Toddler Bike Helmet
Amazon Price: (as of 07/06/2009)
List Price:
Avg. Customer Rating: 
Bell Lil' Bell Shell Toddler/Kids' Bike Helmet
Amazon Price: (as of 07/06/2009)
List Price:
Avg. Customer Rating:
Bell Bellino Toddler Bicycle Helmet (Pink Fuzzy Bunny)
Amazon Price: (as of 07/06/2009)
List Price: $19.99
Avg. Customer Rating:
Airius V6 Toddler Bicycle Helmet, White
Amazon Price: $16.49 (as of 07/06/2009)
List Price:
Avg. Customer Rating:
"All the cool kids wear helmets!"
So stylish!
So smart!
A Pro
Kid on bike trailer
Oh, so cool!
Happy to be fitted properly
Tired...but safe
Those goofy helmets
Do you wear a bike helmet?
Fetching blurbs now... please stand byYes
GregGiordano says:
Not only is it safer to wear one it is a good example for our kids to see me wearing one too.
Posted September 29, 2008
funride says:
Every time! And my young daughter never leave her helmet behind when she go for a ride on her tricycle ;)
Posted September 01, 2008
sharkytoon says:
yes I do wear helmets but only the good ones. I do not wear helmets for style, just for safety though.
Posted May 21, 2008
ms-giggles says:
I've haven't ridden in a long time, but I'm looking for and bike and I will be wearing a helmet. I like the kids helmets over the adults!!!
Posted May 10, 2008
triathlontraining says:
Absolutely! I once had a bad fall and my helmet saved me from serious injury. A large chunk was missing from the side of my bike helmet after I pulled it off to look at it. I escaped with only a few scrapes and a nice little story!
Posted April 28, 2008
No
dlcummings says:
I used to live in Germany and rode my bike all the time, unfortunately I did not wear a helmet. I didn't fall and get hurt or anything, but I do think that it is important to wear a helmet and I want my kids to wear one.
Posted December 13, 2008
spirituality says:
Like most Dutch people, I don't wear a helmet when biking. To wear a helmet is starting to make headway for kids though.
Posted August 02, 2008
Rrrrracing!
Oh my goodness, he's quite possibly the cutest kid I've ever seen in a bike helm...
First bike...and first helmet!
I'm cool!
He was wearing his helmet...smart kid!
The robot jacket still fits!
Nice bike!
Checkin out the new bike in dad's back yard
Riding at the park
Everyone's happy
A daredevil
Two kids start their bike race
For more information
- AAP - TIPP: Tips for Getting Your Children to Wear Bicycle Helmets
- Tips for getting your children to wear bicycle helmets. Establish the helmet habit early. Have your children wear helmets as soon as they start to ride bikes - even if they are passengers on the back of an adult's bike.
- Helmets: Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute: Bike Helmets
- Info on bicycle helmets, standards, safety, laws, more.
- Safe Kids USA
- The National SAFE KIDS Campaign promotes fire safety, car safety and home safety to both adults
and children. Their mission is to prevent the number one killer of children unintentional injury. - Helmets: Attitudes and Actions
- Helmets: Attitudes And Actions
Somebody Loves This Youngster!
Teach Your Kids
While they are young to wear a helmet
Your Story
sara08852 wrote...
Funny, the kids helmets look cute, the adult ones scary.
Sara
Posted August 15, 2008
mulberry wrote...
I hate wearing helmets but...I worked with those who had brain injuries for years and I would never consider going without one.
Posted August 06, 2008
garywgoldstein wrote...
love those helmets. :) It is important for me to wear proper helmet when I do mountain biking.
Posted August 05, 2008
andrphilip wrote...
This lens you put together is very thorough. It must have taken a lot of time to research. Thank you for putting out the effort to keep us safe. When I was in Cambodia I rode a scooter all over town. Having a good helmet was a must. It's very important when cycling as well.
Posted July 25, 2008
by triathlontraining
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