From: tomes@iastate.edu ()
Subject: Re: HELMETS
Organization: Iowa State University, Ames, IA
Date: Fri, 20 Nov 1992 22:38:53 GMT

In article <1992Nov20.175637.19602@megatek.com> randy@megatek.com writes:
>In article <BxzJwI.AB@news.iastate.edu> tomes@iastate.edu writes:

>  I mentioned, no less than three separate and distinct times in the posting
>you are responding to, that I was seeing a helmet as a liability at LOW speeds
>and I went on to state (very clearly) that I was quantifying this as speeds
>less than 30-40 mph. I fail to see the parallel with a helicopter pilot, whose
>cockpit restricts his vision more than the helmet is likely to, anyway.  I've

   The effect you are referring to is known to the rest of the world as
   "Situational Awareness" and describes the conceptual understanding of the
   environment necesssary to perfom a specific function, in the case of a 
   fighter pilot or helicopter pilot the threat scenario and tactical
   situation.  In the case of a motorcyclist, it is the possible hazards and
   riding environment.  Except for the difference between a 2-dimensional
   environment and a 3-dimensional environment, and a slight difference in 
   terms, what are the differences that you refer to?

   As for the reasons to wear a helmet (on not) the speed of the rider does
   not really factor into helmet effectiveness.  The majority of the forces
   on a helmet are in the z direction: up.  The helmet does not stick to the 
   road very well, but does bounce like a ball.  The times that it strikes
   something fixed, it makes a difference.  Usually, the head strikes the 
   ground.  (see Hurt report, others listed in spring issue of Safe Cycling)
   Since the speed of the head in the z direction is almost entirely due to
   the height it falls from, speed (parallel to the ground) is not a major 
   factor.

>  I am very happy that you have some experience via a second hand source in
>the area of human factors engineering, but I'm of the strong opinion that it
>might be *easier* and more accurate to evaluate this first hand, as I have,
>rather than try to predict it based on "evidence" from an unrelated source.

Ok, I admit listening to a professional researcher may be a little risky
without demanding to see his credentials, finaciers, and sample of blood and
bone tissue, but he happens to be a relative and I didn't want to piss him off.

I guess I should have paid more attention to the rest of the human factors 
people at Rockwell-Collins when I worked with them on the EDMS conceptual
demonstrator, but I must have been thinking about why I should not wear a 
helmet when I ride at low speeds in a high traffic urban environment with
unpredictable cages.

But I have had some minor experience in riding, and teaching rider education.
I admit to being more than a little impressed with the research presented by 
the MSF, but then again the MSF has done a pretty good job of keeping the 
studies vaild.  I have been in a motorcycle accident where my head hit the
ground hard enough to scratch the helmet, and I was only going 25 mph.
I probably would have suffered a mild concussion had I not been wearing it.

I have also had a lot of bicycle riding and racing experience, and have 
ridden in traffic quite a bit (every training ride).  My bicycle helmet 
certainly does not intrude on sideways peripheral vision, and I do not perceive
a reduction of situational awareness when I switch to the motorcycle helmet
when I ride one of my motorcycles.  Bicycle racing almost always takes place
at speeds less than 40 mph, and I have been in my share of crashes in 
criteriums.  The three times that my helmet has been damaged, I was unable
to tuck and roll and avoid hitting my head.  

If you can accurately predict before you leave home whether you will or will 
not be involved in an incident where you hit your head hard enough to cause
injury, then you can enjoy the same level of protection that you would if
you had no clue and had to wear the helmet all of the time.

CP Tomes
Peripheral Vision?  I don need no steenkin peripheral vision!!!

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