Bike Helmet Safety Ratings: Not All Are Created Equal

New bike helmet safety ratings from Virginia Tech and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety show that some helmets are more effective than others. The new testing program will help cyclists in making better choices when purchasing bicycle helmets and taking advantage of the latest safety technology.

Bringing Practical Experience to the Process

As is the case with other types of safety equipment, bicycle helmets are subject to testing by the federal Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) before they are allowed on to the market. New bike helmet safety ratings are based on evaluation methods created by the Virginia Tech Helmet Lab and the IIHS, and are a closer approximation of real-world conditions.

During the CPSC’s safety evaluation, helmets are launched against anvils at specific speeds. The helmets are required to protect against skull fractures, but not concussions, which are the most common injuries in bicycle accidents. CPSC tests also don’t measure the danger of impacts from the sides or rims of the helmets, which are more likely to occur.

The Helmet Lab brings practical experience to the testing process, based on its history of testing headgear for contact sports such as football, soccer and hockey. Biomedical engineer Steve Rowson, director of the Helmet Lab, says, “in cycling, we saw an opportunity to reach a broad cross section of the public and bring a new level of safety to an activity with a wide range of other benefits.”

The highest bike helmet safety ratings were earned by helmets that include technology known as Multi-Directional Impact Protection Systems (MIPS), which allows the helmet to slide against the rider’s head during an impact, thus reducing the rotational forces that can result in concussions and neck injuries.

Bike Safety Ratings Address a Growing Problem

With greater awareness of the environmental impact of fossil fuels and an emphasis on exercise and fitness, the number of people who choose bicycling as a form of transportation has grown in recent years. Unfortunately, so has the number of accidents. StreetsBlogUsa.org reports that while overall traffic fatalities declined in 2018, the number of cyclist deaths increased by 10 percent.

A significant number of the cyclists who died were not wearing helmets at the time of their accidents. Safety experts estimate that wearing protective headgear can reduce the risk of head injury by half.

Higher Prices Do Not Equal Better Safety

An interesting finding of the joint VT Helmet Lab-IIHS bike helmet safety ratings project was that the cost of a helmet did not necessarily mean it was more effective at preventing injuries.

Of 30 helmets tested, five received 5-star “Best Available” ratings. All five of the top picks featured MIPS technology, but in terms of price, the helmets ranged in price from $75 to $200.

Most of the helmets that were tested earned 4-star “Very Good” ratings; the rest, only one of which had MIPS technology, were rated as “Good” or “Adequate.”

Join a Free Bicycle Helmet Class Action Lawsuit Investigation

If you purchased a bicycle helmet within the last couple of years that does not measure up to the current technology available, you may qualify to join this bike helmet safety class action lawsuit investigation.

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