Wearing Helmets – Agree

From 3arf

A helmet, also called crash helmet protects motorcycle rider's head during accidents, thus preventing or reducing head injury. Depending on the design, some helmets can provide additional help. There are full face, off-road, modular, open face and half helmets. Why should motorcyclists always wear helmets?


The law

The law says so. Patriotism demands that the laws of the land be obeyed. Right here in Nigeria, the penalty for breaking this law varies from state to state. In the Federal Capital Territory, the penalties include the confiscation of the motorcycle, withdrawal of rider's license and a heavy fine in the mobile court.


Love for others

If we truly love others as all our religions teach us to, then we would strive to be good examples to them. In one way or the other, we all are opinion molders and someone looks up to us to emulate our conducts. So motorcyclists should wear helmets in obedience to traffic laws as examples to those who look up to them.


Possible prevention of crash

During haze and in the night, visibility may be problem for other road users. This is why it is advisable for motorcyclists to have a shining surface like vests and crash helmets to reflect lights and make them more visible. In this wise, crash helmets serve the purpose of prevention as well as protection which is discussed in the paragraphs below.


Safety in case of crash

The most important reason to wear helmet is protection during impacts. The skull, face, neck and chin bones are delicate areas which must be adequately protected in case of accidents. Damages to these areas might be fatal at the worst or cause irreversible damage to the motorcyclists' vital body parts.


Possible dangers

If sharp or heavy objects hit the head of motorcyclists during a crash, the skull bone might crack thereby causing damages to the brain. Death, madness or loss of memory can result from this impact. Of all this, obviously, loss of memory is the mildest resultant problem.


The eyes, ears, and nose are also prone to dangers when a motorcyclist's head and face are unprotected while on motion and during a crash. The eyes and nose must be shielded from flying insects, dirt, flying debris, smoke and rain drops and falling snow in wet seasons. Anything that makes a rider to lose his sight even for a few seconds, or cause a discomfort to the nasal passages area is a potential cause of accident. Infections could also be contacted when insects or dirt enter the eyes or nose.


Fast moving wind can affect the ears of motorcyclists especially in high speeds and windy weathers. The ears could cut off and cheek bones and chin could be crushed or dislocated during a crash if the face has no protection.


How helmets help

Among the types of helmets on sale, full face helmet is the type I personally like and recommend. It covers the entire head, with a rear that covers the base of the skull, and a protective section over the front of the chin. It comes with a visor which totally covers the face to protect the eyes, nose and mouth. The side boards offers protection for the ear. There is a usually a lining of cushion inside that acts as buffer or absorber and makes it to fit snugly.


Other types of helmets including off-road, modular, open face and half helmets have one deficiency or the other when compared to the full face but they are useful all the same and better than riding bare-headed.


Choosing colors

Black helmets offer the least visibility to motorists since black colors tend to absorb all rays of lights. A rider wearing a plain white helmet rather than a black one reduces his or her chance of collision because it is so much more visible. Red, yellow and amber are my favorite colors because they are already symbols of danger or caution in traffic codes.


Passengers too

Currently in Nigeria, we have commercial motorcycle riders who carry passengers like any other vehicle. The Road Safety Corps and the Police have not found it easy convincing passengers to wear the helmets provided by motorcyclists. Many passengers are afraid they might contact infections from these helmets since many heads have worn them. Some potential passengers have taken a safe way out by buying their own helmets.


The rules

There are two unwritten rules to observe when wearing helmets;

The first rule of wearing helmet for motorcyclists states that the less coverage the helmet offers the less protection for the rider.

The second rules states that the protective benefits of crash helmets are greatly reduced or eliminated, if the chin strap is not securely fastened.


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