I Have To Wear This WHY!?!

I was going over some old data last night, and the more I sorted through it all, the more I became aware that there has to be some other reason that we here on the entire west coast, not just Washington State, are forced to wear these damn helmets while we ride.  From looking at this stuff; starting with a 1978 study of all head injuries by cause in San Diego County, and working forward from there, I can't understand how we are mandated to wear these coconuts on our heads.  With 53% of head injuries being caused by motor vehicles (read that cars  & trucks, since there is a separate category for motorcycles) and only 10% caused by motorcycles, WHY THE HELL DON'T CAR DRIVERS HAVE TO WEAR THEM?

Then, I look at compliance test results for motorcycle helmets stretching from 1980 to 2008.  What do I see?  An overall 61% failure rate for helmets.  That means 61% of the helmets tested between 1980 & 2008 didn't even meet the federal standard!  Have a look, and see for yourselves.

“DOT” HELMET COMPLIANCE FAILURE RATES

1980-2008

Year	# Tested	# Passed	# Failed	% Failed
1980	162	63	99	61%
1981	103	53	50	48%
1982	0	0	0	0
1983	0	0	0	0
1984	32	21	11	34%
1985	32	0	32	100%
1986	30	0	30	100%
1987	0	0	0	0
1988	0	0	0	0
1989	30	6	24	80%
1990	30	4	26	86%
1991	47	16	31	66%
1992	30	7	23	76%
1993	31	11	20	64%
1994	167	39	128	76%
1995	168	42	126	75%
1996	167	53	114	68%
1997	41	22	19	46%
1998	40	21	19	46%
1999	40	24	16	40%
2000	40	18	22	55%
2001	40	23	17	42%
2002	40	25	15	37%
2003	40	20	20	50%
2004	40	28	12	30%
2005	40	23	17	42%
2006	40	22	18	45%
2007	39	20	19	48%
2008	37	22	15	40%
TOTALS	1506	583	923	61%

That's just mind boggling that with a non-complince rate like that, we are still being forced to wear helmets.  Basically we have a nearly two out or three chance that our helmets are no good.

Then you think about what researchers and manufacturers say about helmets.  Basically, they are useless over 25 mph.  If they are even any good at speeds that low.  

“DOT tests apply two impacts as well, both at around 13.4 MPH implying a single impact capacity greater than 13.4 mph but certainly no more than 19 mph.”  Ed Becker, SNELL Foundation

Even Harry Hurt, the author of one of the most quoted studies on traffic safety in the 20th Century condeded in a report by KABC TV in Los Angeles that; 

"When impact speeds get up to be about 25 to 30 mph, there's no helmet in the world gonna save you."

So basically, if we ride at the standard speed limit within a town or city of 25mph, then our helmets are virtually useless at that speed already?  If that is the case, I ask again; "Why do we have to wear these things?" 

Unless you are in a crash, the helmet is serving no purpose.  From what I have been finding in my research, if you do get into a crash, the helmet may not work as desired.  So with these sort of odds, is it down to luck?  If helmets don't work as desired to protect against head injury, do they have any other undesriable effects?

“The speed of impact with a heavy helmet when you don’t hit something with your head is important, as the heavier helmet stretches your neck more, with more risk of neck injuries.”   Excerpt of an email from Racer’s Market (a helmet manufacturer) 

So if the helmets can't be expect to withstand impacts above about 20 mph, and they can cause neck injuries during crashes where there isn't an impact on the head, I have to ask again...;  "I am being forced to wear this thing WHY!?!

Catch you on the road sometime...