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Impact Performance of Certified Bicycle Helmets Below, On and Above the Test Line

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Abstract

Bicycle helmets are effective in reducing many head injuries, but their effectiveness could be improved if they provided protection over a larger range of impact locations. We sought to quantify the impact performance of 12 helmet models below, on and above the CPSC prescribed test line. All helmets were drop tested at an impact speed of 6.2 m/s. One helmet adequately attenuated impacts below the CPSC limit of 300 g for all impact locations tested below, on and above the test line. Five helmets met this limit for impacts on or above the test line as required in the CPSC standard, but failed to meet it below the test line (not required in the standard). The remaining six helmets failed to meet the criterion on and/or above the test line. Our findings indicate that consumers should not assume that all portions of a helmet provide adequate and equivalent protection. Our findings also suggest that the CPSC’s current system of self-regulation and self-testing by manufacturers does not prevent substandard bicycle helmets from being sold. Public availability of manufacturers’ impact test data, an independent testing panel, and/or a wider distribution of impact locations are needed to better protect bicyclists.

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Abbreviations

AS/NZS:

Standards Australia, Standards New Zealand

ASTM:

ASTM International

CE EN:

European Committee for Standardization

CPSC:

United States Consumer Product Safety Commission

EPS:

Expanded polystyrene foam

HPI:

Helmet Positioning Index

ISO:

International Standards Organization

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank Jeff Nickel and Mircea Oala-Florescu for their help in conducting the tests.

Conflict of interest

All authors are forensic consultants who occasionally work on cases related to bicycle helmet effectiveness. No external funding was received for this study: all funding and support was provided by MEA Forensic Engineers & Scientists. DDC and GPS are shareholders and GPS is a Director of MEA Forensic Engineers & Scientists.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. MEA Forensic Engineers & Scientists, 11-11151 Horseshoe Way, Richmond, BC, V7A 4S5, Canada

    Alyssa L. DeMarco, Dennis D. Chimich & Gunter P. Siegmund

  2. MEA Forensic Engineers & Scientists, 23281 Vista Grande Drive, Laguna Hills, CA, 92653, USA

    Stephanie J. Bonin

  3. School of Kinesiology, University of British Columbia, 6081 University Blvd, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z1, Canada

    Gunter P. Siegmund

Authors
  1. Alyssa L. DeMarco
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  2. Dennis D. Chimich
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  3. Stephanie J. Bonin
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  4. Gunter P. Siegmund
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Gunter P. Siegmund.

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Associate Editor Joel D. Stitzel oversaw the review of this article.

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DeMarco, A.L., Chimich, D.D., Bonin, S.J. et al. Impact Performance of Certified Bicycle Helmets Below, On and Above the Test Line. Ann Biomed Eng 48, 58–67 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10439-019-02422-x

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