About the Site Email Newsletter Links to Cycling Organisations
Bicycle and Public Transport Bicycle Network Planning Bicycle Strategies & Plans Bike Share Programs Cycling Data End of Trip Facilities Facility Design / Engineering Land Use Planning Mobility Management
Cycling Skills: Information for Riders Cycling Skills: Programs and Resources Organisations Professional Development Research
Awards and Recognition Behaviour Change Programs Economic Benefits of Cycling Environmental Benefits of Cycling Health Benefits of Cycling Maps Marketing Ride to School Ride to Shops Ride to Work Social Benefits of Cycling Women in Cycling
Bicycle Regulations Organisations Overviews Solutions Statistics & Common Crashes
Cycle Tourism: Promotion Cycle Tourism: Strategies Organisations Recreation: Publications and Resources Recreation: Strategies Recreation: Trail and Facility Design Recreation: Trails and Facilities Research
International Local Government National Government State & Territory Government
Cycling Innovations Encouragement & Promotion Enforcement & Road Safety Engineering & Planning Funding

Search

Font Decrease Font Normal Font Increase Print

Smith, T.A., Tees, D., Thom, D.R. and Hurt Jr., H.H. (1994) "Evaluation and replication of impact damage to bicycle helmets"

Smith, T.A., Tees, D., Thom, D.R. and Hurt Jr., H.H. (1994) "Evaluation and replication of impact damage to bicycle helmets", Accident Analysis & Prevention, Volume 26, Issue 6, December 1994, Pages 795-802.  Research paper available for purchase from Science Direct
Visit Site

A group of 72 impacted bicycle helmets were collected, primarily from manufacturers with a crash replacement policy that encourages the return of damaged helmets. Each damaged helmet was thoroughly inspected and measured to determine the construction details and collision damage. Laboratory replication tests were then performed on selected samples using exemplar helmets to determine impact velocity and peak headform aceleration. The predominant impact location was the front left quarter and the replication studies indicate that the majority of impacts took place on flat surfáces from drop heights of 1 meter or less. Overall, it is evident that a large number of bicycle helmet users who have benefited from the use of a bicycle helmet, and future bicycle helmet standards must incorporate the protective requirements of this unique group.