THE INFLUENCE OF PROTECTION HELMETS IN MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENTS

Approximatively 700.000 bicycle scooters (mopeds) are registered in Switzerland (engine displacement 50 ccm, top speed 30 km/h, no licence). They may be driven by persons older than 14 years. Over 10% of all traffic fatalities in Switzerland involve drivers of these vehicles. 133 drivers were killed in 1975 and 4491 severely injured. Detailed results of a one year study of all accidents involving these mopeds in the city of Zurich are presented. As in accidents with heavy motorcycles the most frequent cause of death is a trauma of the skull and/or the brain. Therefore head injuries are analysed whereby special attention is given to drivers protected by helmets. Integral helmets seem to give the best protection. The standard procedure of testing helmets in Switzerland is discussed. The conditions under which a helmet is pushed away by a wheel rather than rolled over are examined. For this purpose some aspects of the interaction between helmet wheel and ground are investigated mathematically and experimentally. It is shown that the main parameters are the angle between wheel direction and the tangent plane in the contact point of the helmet as well as the diameter ratio between wheel and helmet. /TRRL/

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Proceedings of the Meeting on Biomechanics of Injury.
• Corporate Authors:

  IRCOBI (International Research Council on the Biokinetics of Impacts)

  109 Avenue Salvador Allende
  Bron CEDEX,   France  F-69675
• Authors:
  • Walz, F
  • Neiderer, P
  • Kosik, D
• Publication Date: 1976-9

Media Info

• Features: Figures; Photos; References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 301-310
• Serial:
  • Publication of: IRCOBI SECRETARIAT
  • Publisher: IRCOBI (International Research Council on the Biokinetics of Impacts)

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Age; Behavior; Biophysics; Conferences; Crash injury research; Crashes; Fatalities; Hazards; Head; Helmets; Injuries; Injury severity; Moped drivers; Motorcycles; Motorcyclists; Protective clothing; Wheels
• Geographic Terms: Switzerland
• ITRD Terms: 1643: Accident; 1757: Age; 9001: Behaviour; 2060: Biomechanics; 8525: Conference; 1687: Crash helmet; 1602: Fatality; 2163: Injury; 1752: Motorcyclist; 9150: Risk; 1623: Severity (accid, injury); 8110: Switzerland; 1372: Wheel
• Subject Areas: Highways; Research; Safety and Human Factors; Vehicles and Equipment; I81: Accident Statistics; I84: Personal Injuries; I91: Vehicle Design and Safety;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00148072
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Institute for Road Safety Research, SWOV
• Report/Paper Numbers: Proceeding
• Files: ITRD, TRIS
• Created Date: Jul 2 1977 12:00AM