India is the second largest market for two-wheelers in the world. Being so close to leadership in terms of numbers and with two-wheelers being the preferred mode of transport for over a hundred million Indians, one would tend to think that enforcement of basic safety laws would be stringent.

After all, we have the most stringent emission norms for two-wheelers in the world. If air quality is so important in cities with a high concentration of two-wheelers, why should safety be any less important?

Unfortunately, however, the enforcement of safety laws such as a compulsory helmet use tends to be extremely lax in many parts of the country. Two-wheeler riders are almost twice as likely to be injured grievously from an accident as compared to car passengers. Yet, many two-wheeler riders choose to ride without a helmet.

A helmet is the most basic, simple and yet effective safety device that a two-wheeler rider can use to protect him or herself. The helmet only protects the head, but the need to protect that part of our anatomy hardly needs to be re-emphasised.

In the event of an accident, injury to the other parts of the body are, if ever, much less likely to be fatal. Furthermore, a head injury is usually the most difficult and most expensive to treat. Accident victims who have had serious head injuries rarely get back to normalcy even after surgery.

So, wearing a good helmet is an absolute must, even if it is uncomfortable during peak summer months and even if the two-wheeler is being taken out to the nearby kirana store. Helmets with visors also protect the rider’s eyes from debris and small insects, which can often turn out to be accident-causing distractions.

Statistics also show that compliance, even in States where a compulsory helmet law exists, tends to be lower amongst women. There can be no argument in favour of exempting the fairer sex from wearing a helmet whether they are riding the two-wheeler themselves or are riding pillion.

There are innumerable stories of road fatalities, which could have been avoided if the riders were wearing helmets, just as there are an equal number of stories where lives were saved because the riders were wearing one.

The average helmet has four important parts. The first part and the outermost is the shell, which is usually made with fibre-glass, ABS plastic or similar polymer. Some imported high-performance, premium helmets come with reinforced shells made with Kevlar or Carbon-fibre. The shell is the most important part of the helmet. This is what has to face the highest force of the impact in the event of a fall and that is why it needs to be moulded with good quality material. The helmet’s shell should always be a single moulded piece. Never buy a helmet with a shell that uses two or more pieces, which have been fused together.

The next immediate part is the moulded inner lining. The inner lining is usually made of Styrofoam or thermocoal. This lining is meant to absorb much of the force of the impact and prevents the full-effect from being transferred to the rider’s skull. The more dense the material of the lining, the higher the protection it offers.

The third key part of the helmet is the cushioning. High quality sponge and woven cloth is used to create padding for covering the key areas of the head that are prone to injury in the event of a fall. The keys spots that are swaddled by the cushioning are the temples, ears, back of the head and the area just below the eye-sockets. The last component of the helmet that is equally important is the restraint or clasp that holds the helmet in place around the wearer’s head.

There are few myths that are commonly associated with wearing a helmet. They are:

Wearing a helmet leads to hair-loss: There is no scientific proof to back this theory.

Helmets reduce the rider’s ability to hear properly: On the contrary, helmets enable the rider to hear well by cutting wind noise.

Helmets cause neck injuries in the event of a fall: In some accidents this may have been the case, but in the larger scheme of things, preventing fatal head injuries is far much more important than preventing neck injuries.

Cheap, unbranded helmets are as good as the big brands: You may be paying a bit more for the brand, especially if it is a globally renowned one. But often the value and quality that comes with it will be more than worth the few extra hundred rupees you paid.

When worn, the helmet must be loose to provide for airflow: The helmet must actually fit snugly. After wearing it, there should be minimal movement. Try moving the helmet to either side and up and down. The skin on your cheeks and chin should move along with the helmet. That is the sign of a good fit.

Never buy a helmet with an outer shell made from fused parts.

Never wear the helmet without the restraint or clasp on.

A full-face helmet offers better protection than an open-face helmet.

Never leave the helmet hanging on the two-wheeler where it will be exposed to the sun and rain. Exposing the helmet to the elements will lead to a degradation of the outer plastic or fibre-glass shell and eventually, a fall in protection levels. Leave the helmet in the under-seat storage or take it with you.

Never use harsh cleaners or solvents to clean the helmet. Use only mild detergents to prevent corrosion and damage.

Replace the cushioning and lining at least once every two to three years. Ideally, helmets should be replaced after every six years even if they have never met with an accident.

Never ride with the helmet’s visor open. This can dramatically reduce the level of protection it offers.

Buy a helmet with a higher concentration of lighter or brighter colours, including white, for higher visibility on the road.

Never re-use a helmet that has taken a hit in an accident.

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