Helmet

helmet (motorcycle helmet) - passive protection of the driver's head motorcycle or scooter.

Helmets are mandatory for motorcyclists and passengers in almost all countries of the world.

addition to the direct purpose - head protection helmets can help protect against dust and insects, dirt, water and headwind. In addition, the helmet can be a means of self-expression pilot bike, to help show his personality.

There are several types of helmets. In addition, in most countries, the helmet must be certified.

With certification from the helmet to determine the degree of protection.

History of the helmet.

May 13, 1935 in England on his motorcycle crashed legendary British Army colonel and an avid fan of motorcycles (owned at different times 8 Mew tales Brough Superior) Thomas Lawrence of Arabia.

On the road in front of him went second children on bicycles. Avoid hitting them, Lawrence lost control and fell, smashing her head (helmet on it nebylo). 6 days after the accident, Thomas died.

One of the doctors Lawrence - a young neurosurgeon Hugh Cairns impressed by this tragedy, began an extensive study Bibel motorcyclists (analyzed 2279 cases). His report on the study (published in the period from 1941 to 1946 in the British Medical Journal) prompted the development of the public to protect the motorcycle helmet and implementation.

In the early 1950s, have been formulated (British Standards Institute on the instructions of the Ministry of Transport), the first in the world requirements and test methods for the helmets.

in the U.S. in 1953, a professor at the University of Southern California, Charles Lombard was patented helmet with a strong outer shell and the inner part, to repay the energy of impact (helmets have a modern design that the same principle of the device). This helmet is designed for military aircraft, but the patent covered, and many other areas, including protection for the head of motorcyclists.

January 1, 1961 in Australia (the first in the world) came into force a law requiring motorcyclists to use helmets. And now Australia's legislation is very demanding driver safety - Australian and New Zealand Standard AS/NZS 1698:2006, currently in force, - one of the most rigorous standards for motorcycle helmets in the world.

in Russia (then the Soviet Union) the obligation to use motorcycle helmets appeared in 1967 with the adoption of the Resolution ą 1092 of 29 November "on increasing traffic safety in towns and other settlements and on the roads ".

value helmet

value helmet overstated. Since the Ministry of Transport Statistics Great Britain in 2005, motorcyclists were about 1% of road users and as many as 19 % of all road deaths.

80% of deaths in the MDC was due to head injuries.

Design

Motorcycle helmets have 2nd major parts: a strong, rigid outer shell (shell) and internal elastic filling.

outer "shell" helmet gives strength and gives it a look. Internal shock absorption (extinguishes his energy) and gives the wearer comfort while driving.

outer shell is usually made of composite materials (carbon fiber or carbon fiber, fiberglass, ...) or from thermoplastics. The strength of these materials is about the same. Composite shell is usually weigh less (due to the lower thickness), but are more expensive.

Soft, flexible interior is usually a kind of polystyrene cap with fabric and foam gaskets, equipped with straps and buckles. Current models of helmets allow you to make a fabric backing for washing. The straps do not give the helmet to come off on impact.

Fasteners helmets come in several forms:

• D-RINGS (D-rings) - Probably the first type of fasteners. Thanks to the reliability is still in use. D-rings are made of metal. They attach to the straps or rivets, or crimped by a strap and tightly sewn to it.
• Samoprizhimnaya clip - usually steel or aluminum clip. Now less frequently used in crash helmets. Its use today - it's helmets for cyclists, snowboarders, skiers and skaters.
• Buckle-fast fixation. Newest style buckles. They are built on the principle of clamps on car seat belts. Is the most convenient zipper, but on the cheap and little-known models of helmets can be unreliable.

Virtually all modern helmets fitted with windscreen - Visor. Visors are simple from a transparent or colored plastic, or else consist of several coatings (antitumannye anti-reflection coating, a solid layer from scratches, toning, water-repellent coating)

Resource helmet

helmets usually are designed for the protection of a person's head in a crash, after which they become unusable. motorcycle helmet of good quality possess sufficient strength and are not affected (being empty) when accidentally dropped from a small height.

If you suspect that a helmet could be damaged, it is best to carefully check. Helmet manufacturers usually provide a service to check helmets, in extreme cases, they can request detailed instructions on checking.

If the helmet is subjected to mechanical damage, it all still recommend changing at-least once in five-years old (due to the natural aging of materials and new helmets with the best protective properties).

options designs helmets

helmet-integral

integral or full face (full-face) - helmet with chin protection. This helmet completely covers the head and has a motorcycle windshield Glass - visor. A disadvantage of some models such schlemov is poor ventilation. This type of helmet provides the best protection, since a large percentage of strikes davolno the accident falls on the chin.

Modular ( flip-up)

helmet with a good degree of protection. The difference from the integral helmet, the modular m You can recline chin upward arc helmet with visor. This design allows the rider to take food or water, smoke without removing shlem.K Disadvantages include high cost, weight and aerodynamic noise level (compared to integral). Besides documented cases tilting the chin of the helmet upon impact.

motocross helmet

modified helmet-integral with the degree of protection and adaptation to extreme racing. This helmet has a long kozyrkom that protects the face from flying stones under the wheels. Chin arc moved forward (to facilitate breathing) and strengthened. Instead visor use safety glasses. At high speeds, a helmet on his head transmits the rider more aerodynamic pressure than integral.

Outdoor Helmet 3/4

helmet similar to an integral with no chin arc. Such helmets visor is optional. Sometimes there may be provided with the sun visors. Due to a slight protection, these helmets are only suitable for driving at low speed (for a small cubic capacity motorcycles and scooters). The advantage of these helmets - a small price and weight, no problems with the ventilation of the head and the review.

Open helmet 1/2

cheaper and more readily analogue 3/4. covers only half of the head.

Helmet helmet

Rraroditel modern helmets. Usually made of leather, metal or plastic. Has a very low degree of protection. In Russia, no traffic and therefore prohibited to use as a formal element of outrageous outfit or item.

relationship between cost and the level of protection helmet

in practice does not always cost a helmet depends on its protective properties. The price also includes the so-characteristics such as weight, comfort, ventilation, brand recognition, design registration and so on. Therefore, to determine the degree of protection a motorcycle helmet, please refer to the results of testing and certification.

Certification helmet

All helmets must meet certain standards. In Russia it GOST 41.22-2001 "Uniform provisions concerning the approval of protective helmets and their visors for drivers and passengers of motorcycles and mopeds".

Certified helmets in Europe are labeled starting with the letter "E" and deposited inside the helmet. The letter is a number of the country in which the tests were carried out:

• E1 Germany
• E2 France
• E3 Italy
• E4 Netherlands
• E5 Sweden
• E6 Belgium
• E7 Hungary
• E8 Czech Republic
• E9 Spain
• E10 Yugoslavia
• E11 England
• E12 Australia
• E13 Luxembourg
• E14 Switzerland
• E16 Norway
• E17 Finland
• E18 Denmark
• E19 Romania
• E20 Poland
• Portugal E21
• E22 Russia
• E23 Greece
• E25 Croatia
• E26 Slovenia
• E27 Slovakia
• E28 Belarus
• E29 Estonia
• E31 Bosnia and Herzegovina
• E37 Turkey

certified helmet in the U.S. include the inscription «DOT», which is applied is at the back outside of the helmet.