Statistics Show the Need for and Positive Impact of Wearing a Helmet
According to statistics reported by the state of New Jersey, more than half of all motorcycle accidents occur in intersections, with about two of every three caused when other motor vehicle operators fail to see a biker. Excessive speed is a factor in the majority of motorcycle accidents, and lack of experience accounts for one in every five fatal motorcycle accidents.
Safety advocates have long encouraged bikers to wear an approved helmet, urging that such use has can minimize injuries in collisions. New Jersey requires all bikers to wear a securely fitting helmet that complies with federal Department of Transportation (DOT) guidelines, including a neck or chin strap, as well as reflectors on both sides.
A number of other statistics support the use of motorcycle helmets:
- Contrary to popular perception, a helmet won’t impede your view of potentially dangerous situations. In fact, in a study of nearly a thousand bikers, 40% of whom wore helmets, not a single person reported a helmet causing obstruction of surrounding dangers.
- A motorcycle crash can be fatal, even at relatively slow speeds. According to the New Jersey Department of Law and Public Safety, most motorcycle accidents occur when bikers are traveling less than 30 miles per hour. At these slower speeds, helmets can cut both the frequency and severity of head injuries in half.
- Regardless of speed, bikers without helmets are three times as likely to suffer fatal head injuries as those wearing DOT-approved helmets
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