Nov 24, 2007

Motorcycle Helmets: What happens when your head hits the ground with the helmet on?

Again, you should already know most of this. When you impact the ground, the solid ground applies a pretty serious brake on your downward (and usually forward) acceleration. The helmet will absorb an astonishing part of this force, destroying itself in the process, if the need arises. The danger to you, serious trauma apart, is the acceleration of your brain inside your cranium. Snell tests helmets so that only 290gs or less (no kidding) is recorded inside the helmet by the test headform. That's the peak and 150gs cannot be exceeded for more than 4 or 5 ms at a time. The ECE 22-05 is, evidently, even tighter, not allowing more than 275gs. That much, you can handle. I am given to understand that 150gs, roughly equals a headache.

Related links in this series:

Other links on helmets

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