Motorcycle helmets: what about their coating?

In traffic accidents involving motorcycles, paint traces can be transferred from the rider's helmet or smeared onto its surface. These traces are usually in the form of chips or smears and are frequently collected for comparison purposes. This research investigates the physical and chemical characteristics of the coatings found on motorcycles helmets. An evaluation of the similarities between helmet and automotive coating systems was also performed.Twenty-seven helmet coatings from 15 different brands and 22 models were considered. One sample per helmet was collected and observed using optical microscopy. FTIR spectroscopy was then used and seven replicate measurements per layer were carried out to study the variability of each coating system (intravariability). Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Hierarchical Cluster Analysis (HCA) were also performed on the infrared spectra of the clearcoats and basecoats of the data set. The most common systems were composed of two or three layers, consistently involving a clearcoat and basecoat. The coating systems of helmets with composite shells systematically contained a minimum of three layers. FTIR spectroscopy results showed that acrylic urethane and alkyd urethane were the most frequent binders used for clearcoats and basecoats. A high proportion of the coatings were differentiated (more than 95%) based on microscopic examinations. The chemical and physical characteristics of the coatings allowed the differentiation of all but one pair of helmets of the same brand, model and color. Chemometrics (PCA and HCA) corroborated classification based on visual comparisons of the spectra and allowed the study of the whole data set at once (i.e., all spectra of the same layer). Thus, the intravariability of each helmet and its proximity to the others (intervariability) could be more readily assessed. It was also possible to determine the most discriminative chemical variables based on the study of the PCA loadings. Chemometrics could therefore be used as a complementary decision-making tool when many spectra and replicates have to be taken into account. Similarities between automotive and helmet coating systems were highlighted, in particular with regard to automotive coating systems on plastic substrates (microscopy and FTIR). However, the primer layer of helmet coatings was shown to differ from the automotive primer. If the paint trace contains this layer, the risk of misclassification (i.e., helmet versus vehicle) is reduced. Nevertheless, a paint examiner should pay close attention to these similarities when analyzing paint traces, especially regarding smears or paint chips presenting an incomplete layer system.

Cost/benefit study of effects of using several headform sizes in testing motorcycle helmets under Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 218. Final report (Task I).

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Office of Research and Development, Washington, D.C.

Report to Congress: benefits of safety belts and motorcycle helmets. Based on data from the Crash Outcome Data Evaluation System (CODES).

Mode of access: Internet.

The effectiveness of motorcycle helmets in preventing fatalities. Technical report.

Mode of access: Internet.

Motorcycle helmets: claims and facts.

Mode of access: Internet.

Impact of a program for the prevention of traffic accidents in a Southern Brazilian city: a model for implementation in a developing country

Background: Traffic accidents constitute the main cause of death in the first decades of life. Traumatic brain injury is the event most responsible for the severity of these accidents. The SBN started an educational program for the prevention of traffic accidents, adapted from the American model ""Think First"" to the Brazilian environment, since 1995, with special effort devoted to the prevention of TBI by using seat belts and motorcycle helmets. The objective of the present study was to set up a traffic accident prevention program based on the adapted Think First and to evaluate its impact by comparing epidemiological variables before and after the beginning of the program. Methods: The program was executed in Maringa city, from September 2004 to August 2005, with educational actions targeting the entire population, especially teenagers and young adults. The program was implemented by building a network of information facilitators and multipliers inside the organized civil society, with widespread population dissemination. To measure the impact of the program, a specific software was developed for the storage and processing of the epidemiological variables. Results: The results showed a reduction of trauma severity due to traffic accidents after the execution of the program, mainly TBI. Conclusions: The adapted Think First was systematically implemented and its impact measured for the first time in Brazil, revealing the usefulness of the program for reducing trauma and TBI severity in traffic accidents through public education and representing a standardized model of implementation in a developing country. (C) 2009 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Uso del casco en adolescentes usuarios de ciclomotores en la ciudad de Gerona, 2006

Las lesiones cerebrales por traumatismos craneocerebrales son la causa más frecuente de defunción en colisiones de tráfico con la implicación de vehículos de dos ruedas. A pesar de la probada eficacia del uso del casco como dispositivo de protección de la cabeza para atenuar las lesiones en caso de colisión, algunos adolescentes y jóvenes no lo utilizan. El objetivo de este trabajo es identificar las variables que mejor predicen el uso del casco entre adolescentes usuarios de ciclomotores

Comportamientos de riesgo en la adolescencia: paralelismos entre el uso del casco y el uso del preservativo

Un gran quantitat de problemàtiques associades a la mortalitat i morbiditat dels adolescents és poden prevenir (per exemple els accidents de circulació i el VIH). Aquests problemes de salut tenen a veure amb factors ambientals i comportamentals, i no amb factors biològics. La conducció arriscada i la pràctica de relacions sexuals sense protecció contribueixen a incrementar les taxes de malaltia en aquest col·lectiu. L'ús del preservatiu i l'ús del casc són dues conductes que salven vides. Existeix molta evidència sobre la seva efectivitat d'aquestes mesures preventives per minimitzar i/o evitar les conseqüències negatives en situacions de risc. Els resultats d'aquesta investigació posen de manifest que no tots adolescents utilitzen el casc quan circulen en ciclomotor, i el preservatiu quan mantenen relacions sexuals amb penetració. L'ús del casc i l'ús del preservatiu són conductes independents.

Impact of motorcycle helmet usage in Colorado : final report /

September 1978.

Evaluation of state motorcycle helmet laws using the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System. Final report.

Mode of access: Internet.

Motorcycle accident cause factors and identification of countermeasures. Volume II: appendix/supplemental data. Final report.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Washington, D.C.

Motorcycle accident cause factors and identification of countermeasures. Volume I: technical report. Final report.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Washington, D.C.

Impact of the repeal of the Kansas mandatory motorcycle helmet law: 1975-1978. Final report.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Washington, D.C.

Impact of motorcycle helmet law repeal in South Dakota, 1976-79: executive sumary. Final report.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Washington, D.C.

Impact of motorcycle helmet law repeal in South Dakota, 1976-79. Final report.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Washington, D.C.