Comparison Tests of Motorcycle Helmets Qualified to ...€¦ · Motorcycle Helmet Standards zFMVSS...

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Comparison Tests of Motorcycle Comparison Tests of Motorcycle Helmets Qualified to Helmets Qualified to International Standards International Standards Collision and Injury Dynamics El Segundo, California www.ci-dynamics.com David R. Thom, MS

Transcript of Comparison Tests of Motorcycle Helmets Qualified to ...€¦ · Motorcycle Helmet Standards zFMVSS...

Page 1: Comparison Tests of Motorcycle Helmets Qualified to ...€¦ · Motorcycle Helmet Standards zFMVSS No. 218 (DOT) – Mandatory* for motorcycle use – (* but poorly enforced) zSnell

Comparison Tests of Motorcycle Comparison Tests of Motorcycle Helmets Qualified to Helmets Qualified to

International StandardsInternational Standards

Collision and Injury DynamicsEl Segundo, Californiawww.ci-dynamics.com

David R. Thom, MS

Page 2: Comparison Tests of Motorcycle Helmets Qualified to ...€¦ · Motorcycle Helmet Standards zFMVSS No. 218 (DOT) – Mandatory* for motorcycle use – (* but poorly enforced) zSnell
Page 3: Comparison Tests of Motorcycle Helmets Qualified to ...€¦ · Motorcycle Helmet Standards zFMVSS No. 218 (DOT) – Mandatory* for motorcycle use – (* but poorly enforced) zSnell

Motorcycle Helmet StandardsMotorcycle Helmet Standards

FMVSS No. 218 (DOT)– Mandatory* for motorcycle use– (* but poorly enforced)Snell Memorial Foundation British Standards Institution 6658ECE 22.05 (European Commission)

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2005 Real2005 Real--World TestsWorld Tests

2 & 3 meter drop heightsFlat pavement impact surfaceAggressive metal edge impact One impact per site

Page 5: Comparison Tests of Motorcycle Helmets Qualified to ...€¦ · Motorcycle Helmet Standards zFMVSS No. 218 (DOT) – Mandatory* for motorcycle use – (* but poorly enforced) zSnell

RealReal--World TestsWorld TestsTwo and three meter drop heights represent 90th and 99th percentile impacts

Page 6: Comparison Tests of Motorcycle Helmets Qualified to ...€¦ · Motorcycle Helmet Standards zFMVSS No. 218 (DOT) – Mandatory* for motorcycle use – (* but poorly enforced) zSnell

RealReal--World TestsWorld TestsFlat pavement impact surface--Just like the roads we crash on. Hurt Study found 87% of all helmet impacts to be against flat surfaces71% of the impacts on pavement

Page 7: Comparison Tests of Motorcycle Helmets Qualified to ...€¦ · Motorcycle Helmet Standards zFMVSS No. 218 (DOT) – Mandatory* for motorcycle use – (* but poorly enforced) zSnell

RealReal--World TestsWorld TestsAggressive metal edge impact surfaceBecause there are 11% things out there to hit that are not flat.

Page 8: Comparison Tests of Motorcycle Helmets Qualified to ...€¦ · Motorcycle Helmet Standards zFMVSS No. 218 (DOT) – Mandatory* for motorcycle use – (* but poorly enforced) zSnell

RealReal--World TestsWorld TestsOne impact per site--Just like real crashesHurt Study found 91% single critical impactOnly 6.3% had any second impact at the same site…and at far lower energy

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Monorail Test ApparatusMonorail Test Apparatus

ASPHALT PAVEMENT ANVIL

ISO SIZE J HEADFORM

Page 10: Comparison Tests of Motorcycle Helmets Qualified to ...€¦ · Motorcycle Helmet Standards zFMVSS No. 218 (DOT) – Mandatory* for motorcycle use – (* but poorly enforced) zSnell

Helmet ComponentsHelmet Components

Shell

EPS Liner

ShellEPS Liner

Fit Padding

Retention System

Page 11: Comparison Tests of Motorcycle Helmets Qualified to ...€¦ · Motorcycle Helmet Standards zFMVSS No. 218 (DOT) – Mandatory* for motorcycle use – (* but poorly enforced) zSnell

One Part EPS LinersOne Part EPS Liners

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TwoTwo--Part EPS LinersPart EPS Liners

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MultiMulti--Part EPS LinersPart EPS Liners

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CrushCrush--Zone EPSZone EPS

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1992 & 2005 Tests1992 & 2005 Tests

-11.5223g252gDOT-Snell

NA191gNone Tested

DOT-ECE

NA207gNone Tested

DOT-BSI-28.3182g254gDOT

% change2005 3 meter (9.8 ft)

1992 10 foot (3m)

Standard

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1992 & 2005 Tests1992 & 2005 Tests

-11.5223g252gDOT-SnellNA191gNone DOT-ECENA207gNone DOT-BSI

-28.3182g254gDOT

% change

2005 3 meter (9.8 ft)

1992 10 foot (3m)

Standards

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Lower Acceleration is BetterLower Acceleration is Better

There is no “magic” line at 300g: 299g is no better than 301g“Future improvements are more likely to come from reduced acceleration limits than from increased impact energy requirements.” (Hurt, 1993)

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Lower Acceleration is BetterLower Acceleration is Better

DOT’s effective limit is 250g European ECE 22.05 limit 275gEuropean COST 327 proposed standard has a limit of 180g for some impacts

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Conclusion: Conclusion: helmets are better now.helmets are better now.

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More ConclusionsMore ConclusionsFull face helmets have better impact attenuation in 2005 than in 1992Helmets are available in the US meeting European standards & DOTThe standards met correlates well with impact performance in realistic testsDOT-only performs best, followed by ECE, BSI and Snell qualified helmets

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More Conclusions & More Conclusions & Some ProblemsSome Problems

More riders are wearing:–Nothing–Partial coverage helmets–Fake helmets

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Thank you for your attention !Thank you for your attention !

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Internet ResourcesInternet ResourcesAMA – ama-cycle.orgCollision Dynamics- ci-dynamics.comDOT-NHTSA – nhtsa.dot.govDynamic Research – dynres.comHPRL – hprl.orgMotorcyclist– motorcyclistonline.comMSF – msf-usa.orgSnell Foundation – smf.org