The importance of proper motorcycle helmet buckling: A scientific study

• Main Authors: N. Q., Radzuan, Mohd Hasnun Ariff, Hassan, Mohd Nadzeri, Omar, Nur Aqilah, Othman, Mohd Amirudin, Mohamad Radzi, Khairil Anwar, Abu Kassim
• Format: Conference or Workshop Item
• Language: English; English
• Published: Springer 2024
• Subjects: H Social Sciences (General); HE Transportation and Communications; TJ Mechanical engineering and machinery
• Online Access: http://umpir.ump.edu.my/id/eprint/41803/1/The%20Importance%20of%20Proper%20Motorcycle%20Helmet%20Buckling.pdf; http://umpir.ump.edu.my/id/eprint/41803/2/The%20Importance%20of%20Proper%20Motorcycle%20Helmet%20Buckling%20-%20A%20Scientific%20Study.pdf; http://umpir.ump.edu.my/id/eprint/41803/; https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-99-6890-9_29

This research investigated the effect of proper motorcycle helmet buckling on head injury through experimentation. The study used an Instron Dynatup 9250HV monorail impact machine, with a single open-face helmet attached to a Hybrid III dummy and a Shimmer 200 g IMU sensor installed in the dummy's skull. The helmet used in the research was a certified helmet from SIRIM Berhad. It was impacted at the frontal location in two different scenarios. Firstly, as a loosely buckled helmet with the impact occurring on the face shield, and secondly, as a firmly buckled helmet with the impact correctly absorbed by the frontal helmet shell. The protective performance of the helmet was evaluated using peak linear acceleration (PLA), peak rotational acceleration (PRA), head injury criterion (HIC) and brain injury criterion (BrIC). The results showed that the loosely buckled helmet had higher values for PLA, PRA, HIC and BrIC, indicating a higher head and brain injury risk. It is worth noting that the impact on the face shield was at a slightly lower speed than the impact on the helmet shell, but the acceleration profile for the improperly buckled helmet still showed a higher PLA value. The comparison of both scenarios is at the impact speed of 6.0 m/s. This research provides scientific evidence supporting the importance of proper helmet buckling to reduce the risk of injury and potentially save lives.