How much is your head?
Aside from the ease of mobility it offers, a motorcycle gives riders a sense of freedom on the open road. However, a motorcycle does not provide the structural protection that a car does to keep drivers safe in the event of an accident.
One of the serious dangers involved is riding without a helmet and it is highly illegal under RA 10054.
According to WHO Philippines’ Dr. John Juliard Go, there were a total of 11,264 deaths from accidents on Philippine roads. Around 5,970 or 53 percent of that number were riders or passengers of motorcycles, tricycles, and other two- or three-wheeled vehicles. From that total, more than 90 percent were not wearing helmets.
Motorcyclists need to take extra precautions to protect their body. The most important place to start is by protecting the head. The head and brain are most vulnerable to injury in a motorcycle accident. Drivers and passengers wearing helmets increase their chance of survival significantly over non-helmet wearers.
It is important for motorcyclists to understand the risks of riding without a helmet. Riders who do not wear helmets are at risk of suffering a traumatic brain injury if they are in an accident. Without protection, the head is vulnerable to a traumatic impact in an accident even when traveling at low speeds.
WHO Philippines shared that wearing a motorcycle helmet helps reduce risk of death by 40 percent and severe injury by 70 percent. The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration studies of non-fatal motorcycle injuries reveal that riders who did not wear a helmet had higher health care costs, longer hospitalization, longer recovery periods, and an increased loss in quality of life.
Traumatic brain injuries that are non-fatal usually have serious and long-term results. Brain trauma often results in spinal cord injuries and disability that require extended care and physical therapy. In addition, the damaged brain may deteriorate after hospitalization and die days to weeks after the injury due to secondary injury.
Because the fatal risk of traumatic brain injury is so high, it is crucial for motorcyclists to take action to protect themselves while riding. Wearing a helmet that has an ICC sticker will help, but it is highly recommended to get one that is DOT approved or Snell rated. It is one of many precautions a rider can take to increase safety on the open road.
To motorcyclists who argue about the price of a good helmet. I have only one question for you. How much is your head?
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