Duty of the Helmet

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by Mark Brownell, PCI #1938
Spokane (WA) Police Department

The greatest liability to any bicycle rider – mountain, road, or hybrid – is to neglect the brain bucket. As a bike officer, wearing a helmet is required; it’s just like wearing body armor.

A bike helmet is designed to protect the head from the impact caused by a bike crash (inevitable) or a vehicle collision.

A bike crash is simply when a rider crashes, whether it be a fall, flip, or blunt force crash.

The “easiest” of these three crashes would be a fall. When you experience a fall, there are usually just two opponents:

The Rider
Gravity

There are numerous obstacles that could cause a fall: pedestrians, dogs, motor vehicle traffic, a quick maneuver/rock/obstacle dodge, curbs, grates, debris, and more. When you have a crash like this, speed is generally the determining factor as to the extent of injuries. For this type of crash, a trail helmet would be just fine and likely help reduce any injuries to the head.

Keeping in mind that a fall crash is most ideal when (not if) you have one, the next more serious crash would be a flip. This is self-explanatory. Just envision someone flipping forward over the front wheel of the bike; this is also known as an endo.

For this type of crash, you would want added rear and side length to a helmet. Reference the examples shown below:

The reason it is important to add the extra side and rear protection is because, on a flip, potential energy forces (i.e., gravity) will win. Potential energy is energy stored in an object based on its distance from the earth.

The average human head (potential energy) weighs 11 pounds (4.9kg). According to a 2016 Consumer Reports study, if a human head was dropped without any outside forces stopping it, it would strike the ground between 9.5 to 13.4 mph (15.3 to 21.6 kph), depending on the height of the rider.

The simple conclusion and answer to any sort of liability would be…du du duh…the more protection around the rider’s head, the better off the rider is.

There is no stopping a flip. It just something that the cyclist has to endure until the end of that 9.5 to 13.4 mph (15.3 to 21.6 kph) impact, not including rotational forces, which bring additional force to the cyclist’s head.

The crash no cyclist wants is the blunt force crash. In most instances, this is a motor vehicle vs. rider collision. Per the IPMBA Complete Guide to Public Safety Cycling, bike/motor vehicle crashes account for 33% of all bike crashes resulting in injury and/or death. The Complete Guide also reports that 80% of all fatal bicycle crashes are the result of injuries to the cranial area. This is why public safety cyclists need additional side and rear protection on their helmets. In my opinion, that additional rear and side support should be extended past the ears and down the back of the head.

For that, I recommend a helmet with MIPS Spherical Technology. Bell states this about this technology: “Our ball-and-socket design, powered by MIPS, helps redirect impact forces away from the brain by allowing the outer liner to rotate around the inner liner during a crash.”

The Spokane Police Department Tac Team purchased Bell Super R helmets, which have MIPS technology. These helmets are a great choice. They also come with chin guards in case there is a need for additional protection, such as during Bicycle Response Team operations.

It is also important to know that helmet manufacturers recommend replacing your helmet every three to five years (check the manufacturer’s specs). After researching online, I have found no evidence that a helmets EPS liner will deteriorate from age; however, there are other things that will cause it to deteriorate, including solvents, chemicals, and environmental exposure. These can degrade the helmet’s performance and ability to do its job.

Helmets are a dime a dozen. They are mass-produced because the market is thriving and cycling safety is brought more on the forefront in these times. They can range in cost from very affordable to extremely expensive.

Always make sure that when you purchase a helmet, it is from a reputable company and that it has met the applicable helmet safety standards. Do your research by reading reviews online, talking to peers, and contacting other departments who have subject matter experts. Consult the Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute (BHSI.org) for unbiased, commercial-free information and advice.

Mark is a police officer in the City of Spokane, in Washington State. He is assigned to an undercover street crimes team. He is also a Tactical Flight Officer (TFO) with the United States Marshal’s Office. Mark has been an IPMBA instructor since 2019 and is the lead mechanic and instructor for the Spokane Police Bicycle Team. In his free time, you can find Mark jumping off 6’ rocks on his mountain bike and either landing it or landing in the hospital. He can be reached at mbrownell@spokanepolice.org.

Photos courtesy Mark Brownell.

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