History of the Modern Motorcycle HelmetHelmets have been around pretty much throughout human history. Examples of helmets, presumably for military use, can be found in the pre-history of more than one culture. Helmets came in a wide variety of shapes and sizes to serve a range of protective functions long before motorcycle helmets were developed.In WWII the British Army issued helmets to their dispatch riders that were considerably different than other combat helmets, and riders were required by regulation to wear them. Those military regulations may be the first modern example of a helmet law, although the army may seem an unlikely proponent of safety precautions.
At the time, helmets were common only in motorcycle racing and were not often used on the roads. A young neurosurgeon named Hugh Cairns was present at the military hospital where T.E.Lawrence died, and he went on to begin the first systematic assessment of head injuries in motorcycle crashes, and the first studies on the efficacy of helmets. That research, and Cairns connection to the military lead to the superior head protection that British Military Motorcycle Couriers enjoyed.
Helmet development has continued, arguably driven in part by the Snell Memorial Foundation's policy of revisiting helmet standards every 5 years. The quality and level of protection we get from our helmets today is the result of hardly more than half a century of development, and contributions from almost every branch of science.
Bakelite, the first commercially successful plastic was invented in 1907, but fiberglass wasn't invented until 1938, and I haven't found mention of it in motorcycle helmet advertisements before the 1960's. A wide range of plastic, styrofoam and other chemically complicated construction materials have been used to make helmets since then. Finding out exactly what a helmet today is constructed from probably requires several degrees in chemistry. The third milestone in helmet development probably happened in a test tube or a labratory.
In these litiginous days, where helmet manufacturers are named in lawsuits in which their products were not used, it's remarkable we have any companies willing to make motorcycle helmets anymore. Without legislation requiring us to wear helmets, we probably wouldn't. The next time you slide on your helmet, take a moment to value the complexity of the science and the people behind it's development; from the racers and doctors to the scientists and politicians.
| ||
More Photos...Vintage motorcycle riding gear and motorcycle helmet advertisements from the 1950's to the 1980's - Riding Gear Ads
|
| |
More Helmet Reading...Important reading for all helmet wearers: The Snell Memorial Foundation www.smf.orgFlorida's Motorcycle Helmet Law Repeal and Fatality Rates http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=1448295 Motorcycle Accident Studies and Helmet use: http://www.maids-study.eu/helmets.html
Head Protection and Injury information
DOT Helmet testing information:Helmet testing data from 2007: http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/testing/comply/fmvss218/2007s218.pdfNHTSA DOT Helmet Recall information: http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/testing/comply/fmvss218/2007s218.pdf More Helmet Information: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (USA) on helmets for motorcyclists - http://www.iihs.org/research/qanda/helmet_use.html
Ontario Road Safety:Ontario Road Safety Annual Reports http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/safety/orsar/
|
Back to the Articles Page
![]() | |
Dirty Girl Motor Racing |
. . . Power to weight is an exponential advantage! |
The DirtyGirlMotorRacing.com logo is designed by Shane Finigan
DirtyGirlMotorRacing.com website is owned, designed and promoted by Andrea Goodman AGWebServices.com - SearchSuccessEngineered.com