Helmets Protect at Normal Speeds
Helmet law opponents often claim, incorrectly, that helmets cause injuries at speeds above 13.66 miles per hour (mph) because they cannot absorb forces beyond that speed. In fact, a study conducted by the University of Southern California found that most motorcycle crashes do not involve a rider crashing head-on into a fixed object, but rather a rider traveling at 25-30 mph who strikes the pavement or other surface at an angle. Helmet safety performance criteria established by the U.S. Department of Transportation are based, in part, on crash data demonstrating what typically happens to motorcyclists in actual crashes. Helmets are tested at a 13.3 mph vertical drop to simulate the types of angle impacts that occur at much higher speeds. Crash data confirms that helmets are very effective in preventing head injuries in crashes at speeds greatly exceeding 13 mph.