Snell & Helmet Standards Daniel Thomas, M.D. Gear Up Conference Springfield, IL December 15, 2011 Snell Memorial Foundation, Inc.
otorcycle Crashes on the Rise
Latest DOT Statistics Motorcycling related injury and fatality have been on the rise for the 11 th year. Motorcycle fatalities make up 14% of all highway h crash fatalities.
National Statistics NHTSA Injury and Fatality Statistics Increased 7% from 2006 to 2007 5,154 killed in 2007 103,000 injured in 2007 51% increase in motorcycle registration from 2000 to 2005
More Riders & More Fatalities According to Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, 2000-20052005 51% increase in motorcycle registration 59.4% increase in motorcyclist fatalities
Causes of Fatality & Injury Unlicensed Riders DUI Rider with No Helmet or Bogus Helmet Larger Engine Size Traffic and Road Conditions
Motorcycle Helmet Effectiveness According to NHTSA Riders without helmets are 3 times more likely to suffer traumatic brain injuries. Helmets reduce brain injuries by 67% Helmet reduce the likelihood of all fatalities by 37%. 800 more riders could have been saved by helmets in 2007.
Focus of Discussion Today How Brain Injuries Occur in Crashes? How Helmets Prevent Injuries? How to Identify Protective Helmets? Why Testing Helmets Matters?
Behind the Injury Statistics
Going Bare Head?
Human Brain
Cross Section of Brain Image SKULL DURA
Types of Head and Brain Injuries SCALP LACERATIONS SKULL FRACTURES FOCAL BRAIN INJURIES CONTUSION, LACERATION HEMORRHAGE DIFFUSE BRAIN INJURIES CONCUSSION SYNDROMES PENETRATING INJURIES
rain Injury Factors in a Crash Sudden Stop and Deceleration Rate Impact Energy Human Natural Tolerance Brain Tissue and Blood Vessel Damage
How Helmets Work Space Time
Space
kull Fracture and Hemorrhage
Physics in a Thumb Tack
ard Shell = Spread Impact Energy
Load Spreading Helmet vs. Surface Bare Head vs. Surface Head vs. Helmet
hick and Dense Foam = More Time Sudden stop leads to injury. Foam liner crushing takes time. Reducing deceleration Ending with gentle - longer final stop
Protective Helmet = Good Driver
Motion
Bridging g Vein Rupture
Stopping Distance
Foam = Braking Time
Identify Protective Helmets Snell Label (+ DOT for USA) Snell Label (+ ECE for Europe) Design and Structure Energy Management Capability
Old Helmets
New Helmets
Labels as indirect indicator What DOT Label Means: Manufacturer self-certification
ll Snell Helmets Meet DOT Standard NHTSA says Snell implies DOT compliance.
Motorcycle Helmet Structure en Face Full Face
Bogus Helmet
Shell Only Helmet Load Spreading No Increase in Stop time Cannot meet current Motorcycle Helmet Standards Examples Novelty or Bogus Helmets Appeal Light Weight, Close Fitting Downside Much better protection available
Bogus vs DOT/Snell Helmets
Bogus vs DOT/Snell Helmets
No Foam Liner = No Braking Time
icycle Helmet & Bogus Helmet
Shell & Liner Helmet Load Spreading Longer Stopping Time May Meet Standards Examples Current Motorcycle Helmets Appeal Established Injury Reduction Downside Weight 2 to 4 increase in head diameter
Two Helmet Standards (USA) DOT (FMVSS 218) Mandatory minimum impact protection requirement Self-certified Manufacturers arrange reasonable testing Claim DOT certification for their own products Snell M2005 M2010 Voluntary premium impact protection capability Snell certified Snell does pre-market and in-market testing Manufacturers are bound by contract
Two Helmet Standards (Eur.) ECE 22-05 Mandatory minimum impact protection requirement Pre market certified Batch Test for production ECE sanctioned labs Snell M2005 M2010 Voluntary premium impact protection capability Snell certified Snell does pre-market and in-market testing Manufacturers are bound by contract
M2010 Energy Management
Impact Energy Management Comparison
M2010 Summary Helmets must also meet local requirements USA FMVSS 218 (DOT) Europe ECE 22-05 Differences for Europeans More impact management than ECE 22-05 Lower G s Gs for sizes 60 cm and up Differences for North Americans Lower G but less impact management than M2005 for Lower G but less impact management than M2005 for sizes 59 cm and down Still more impact management than DOT
Snell Program Defined by the License Agreement Grants to the Manufacturer Use of Snell Name and Logo to market appropriately certified helmets Obliges the Manufacturer to Place Snell certification labels l in each unit of certified headgear Report on Snell labeled production and distribution Cooperate with Snell Enforcement Pay fees for labels, certification testing and enforcement testing
Effectiveness of Standards Standards = Documents Effectiveness of standards depend on *E Enforceable compliance -Independent certification * Strict and comprehensive policing -Gate-keeping and random sampling * Experience e and competence ce - Expertise and Repeatable testing
Helmet Testing
Snell Impact Test Stand
Penetration Test
Certification & Random Tests
When, How, Where
Finally Snell is the only program that requires pre- market certification testing for gate- keeping and in-market random sample testing for compliance. Snell certified helmets can handle higher impact energy. Snell updates standards to make the best head protection available to all riders.
Last Words Riders have no direct indicators of helmet protective capability Riders can look for indirect indicators (e.g.:snell/dot stickers) There are reasonably foreseeable crashes that will exceed a helmet s protective capabilities. In serious crashes riders need all the impact management capability a helmet can offer.
Snell Staff
Snell Directors & Members m C. Chilcott, Ph.D. William H. Muzzy Daniel J. Thomas, M.D., M.P.H. l H. Appel, Esq. Thomas A. Gennarelli, M.D., M.A., FACS Randal Ching, Ph.D.
Website www.smf.org Helmet Lists Brand, Model, Size HeadsUp Newsletters Standards d General Information Links to Manufacturers, Distributors, etc.