Use Your Head and Protect Your Brain
Contributed By - Dr. Kohinoor Kar and Mike Cynecki
March has been designated as “Brain Injury Awareness Month.” Your brain is the most fragile part of your body and is difficult to repair once damaged. The Brain Injury Association of America (BIAA) announced that the Congressional Brain Injury Task Force has scheduled the Brain Injury Awareness Day on Capitol Hill for Wednesday, March 13, 2019. According to the BIAA, brain injury is unpredictable in its consequences. They state, “brain injury affects who we are and the way we think, act, and feel. It can change everything about us in a matter of seconds.” How does it relate to traffic safety?
The single most important piece of safety equipment for a motorcyclist or a bicyclist is a safety helmet. Did you know that some cities in Arizona require bike helmets for children? Tucson was the first city to introduce this requirement in Arizona (1993), and was followed by Pima County and Sierra Vista. The most recent city to adopt a mandatory helmet law for children was Flagstaff in 2010. In all cases, the helmet law applies to only children under the age of 18.
Even though Arizona does not have a statewide mandatory helmet law for bicyclists or motorcyclists, individuals using these transportation modes need to protect the most vulnerable part of their body – their head. This is also true for those riding scooters, e-scooters, skateboards, roller skates or inline skates.
According to the Bike Helmet Institute, head injuries cause 75 percent of the 700 annual bicyclist deaths in the U.S. Motor vehicle collisions with a bicyclist are typically very serious, and many bicycle crashes do not involve crashes with motor vehicles. Medical research shows that bike helmets can prevent 48 percent to 85 percent of cyclists’ head injuries. Even a low-speed fall on a bicycle trail or sidewalk can scramble your brains. The Bike Helmet Institute states that you ALWAYS need a helmet whenever you ride. You can expect to crash in your next 4,500 miles or sooner. The following shopping guide information is provided for bike helmets:
• Make sure your helmet fits to get all the protection you are paying for. A good fit means level on your head, touching all around, comfortably snug but not tight. The helmet should not move more than about an inch in any direction, and must not pull off no matter how hard you try.
• Rear stabilizers do not substitute for careful strap adjustment.
• Standards are no longer a big issue in the US market, but check inside for a Consumer Product Safety Commission sticker. Consumer Reports has some helmet model recommendations.
• Pick white or a bright color for visibility to be sure that motorists and other cyclists can see you.
• Common sense tells you to avoid a helmet with snag points sticking out, a squared-off shell, inadequate vents, excessive vents, an extreme “aero” shape, dark colors, thin straps, complicated adjustments or a rigid visor that could snag in a fall.
See helmets.org for additional information. If a bicycle or motorcycle helmet has been involved in a crash, it should be thrown away and replaced with a new one. The Maricopa Association of Governments’ Metropolitan Area Bikeway Map includes information that bicycle helmets should even be replaced after several years of wear and tear.
Parents need to be a good role model for their children every time they ride a bicycle. Play it smart and wear a helmet and make sure it is the right size for your head and it is properly adjusted. It is not a rocket science – just use your head and protect your brain!
The authors would appreciate your questions, comments or suggestions on future topics via email (trafficsafetyexpert@gmail.com).
Disclaimer: Opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and may not necessarily represent the views of the agencies they are affiliated with. Information is for general awareness and not intended to substitute for professional advice, and thus the authors cannot be held accountable for anything contained in this article.
Kohinoor Kar, Ph.D., P.E., PTOE, a professional engineer vastly experienced in roadway, traffic and safety field, has been with the State of Arizona for over 14 years. He has published a number of research papers and presented at several prestigious conferences. Dr. Kar serves on several safety-related advisory committees/panels at the State, national and international levels. He is currently a Faculty Associate at Arizona State University.
Michael J. Cynecki, P.E., PTOE retired from the City of Phoenix after a career of 26 years in the Transportation Department, and is currently with the consulting firm of Lee Engineering, LLC. Mr. Cynecki is an Emeritus member of the Transportation Research Board Committee on Pedestrians.