There are many motorcycle enthusiasts who advocate freedom of choice when it comes to the decision to wear a motorcycle helmet while riding in Missouri. Although there can be considerable debate about whether the safety benefits of motorcycle helmets should trump a motorcyclist’s personal choice, sometimes this debate gets distorted with urban myths that obscure the legitimate issues while focusing on positions that are not supported by factual evidence.
One such urban legend is that motorcycles can increase the likelihood of car accidents by obscuring lateral vision and hearing and that the weight of a motorcycle helmet increases the risk of spinal and neck injuries. While we respect the right of those who oppose Missouri’s mandatory motorcycle helmet law to disagree, this particular argument is based on misinformation that can lead new riders to make a regrettable decision to ride without protective headgear.
While urban myths about the safety drawbacks of motorcycle helmets are supported by a scientific study conducted long ago, this study has since been thoroughly debunked. The study was conducted by J.P. Goldstein and concluded that motorcycle helmet use could contribute to neck injuries because the weight of the helmet added to head mass during a collision. However, more than a dozen subsequent studies have reached a contrary conclusion.
The claim that motorcycle helmets increase the risk of a motorcycle accident by decreasing visibility also has been shown to be without merit through scientific studies. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) conducted a study to determine the degree to which helmet use caused collisions by obstructing a motorcyclist’s peripheral vision or hearing. The NHTSA research found that motorcycle helmets did not significantly affect a rider’s ability to hear a vehicle’s turn signals or detect that a vehicle in an adjacent lane was making a lane change. The authors of the study found that the sound of a motorcycle engine was so loud that any noise the riders could hear over the sound of the engine they could hear with or without a helmet. The study also found that motorcyclists merely turn their heads slightly more to compensate when wearing a helmet so they do not suffer any significant reduction in peripheral vision.
Because we see the tragic consequences when a motorcyclist falls victim to a drunken, distracted or otherwise negligent driver, we urge riders to wear a helmet and obey traffic safety law. If you or someone you love is injured or a family member dies in a Missouri motorcycle accident, we urge you to contact us if you have questions. Our experienced Missouri DUI car accident injury attorneys at Hubbard & Kurtz, LLP work diligently to obtain financial compensation for our clients’ injuries so contact us toll free at (877) 535-1163 to see how we can help!