Helmet vs. non helmet WITH airbags

[R Golf]

There was a whole lot of yelling, name calling and other nonsense when someone posted a video of them on track while not wearing a helmet. I've been track driving and instructing on and off since 1998 and have never seen any technical study showing that helmets improve safety while driving a car equipped with airbags. There has been a lot of intelligent discussion, but I have yet to see any real data one way or the other.

I worked in the semiconductor industry and sold our parts to virtually every airbag manufacturer in the world. The specs on airbags are controlled to silly tolerances. As far as I know, none of them are calibrated to the driver or passenger wearing a helmet.

I'm not interested in anyone's opinion. They're a dime a dozen. Just a very simple question. Can anyone lead me to data that shows the benefit (or not) of wearing a helmet in a car equipped with modern airbags?

Not leaning one way or the other, just curious because I've found nothing.

 

[johnnloki]

"DATE:November 16, 2004 FROM:National Staff TO: All Participants SUBJECT: Airbag Advisory It has been brought to the attention of SCCA Technical Services that the use of full-face or closed-face helmets while driving vehicles with active airbagrestraint systems may result in injuries in the event of a crash that deploys the airbag. Because of the location of the steering wheel relative to a driver’s position, the airbag axis is on a level with the driver’s chin. In a crash with airbag deployment, contact with the chin area of a full-face helmet can be so powerful “that the risk of fractures to the jaw cannot be ruled out“ (Hubert Gramling, FIA Institute, FT3/AF, 18.5.1999)."

It's been a while, but it looks like the regulations were changed around the use of full faced and closed face helmets due to Hubert Gramling's findings in the early oughts.

The conjecture (that you've asked to not read) is that if it was investigated and the data was indeed sorted through thoroughly, there must be clear benefits to wearing a not full faced or not closed face helmet, at the very least when compared to accident head injury data at similar speeds on the public roadways.

At the end of the day, an open faced helmet protects your head from accident impact damage from every other direction, which even a 10+ airbag car system still can't claim to do.

 

[Sandman GTI]

This will cover any weak spots.

https://adventure.howstuffworks.com...-helmet-airbags-could-keep-your-head-safe.htm

 

[johnnloki]

This will cover any weak spots.

https://adventure.howstuffworks.com...-helmet-airbags-could-keep-your-head-safe.htm

You underestimate how many soft spots my head has.

 

[Crild]

The fact you're an instructor and are even contemplating the helmet thing is scary.

 

[johnnloki]

The fact you're an instructor and are even contemplating the helmet thing is scary.

Deja Vu

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[Chad13762]

A secondary impact, after the airbags have gone limp, from another car on course. How are airbags to provide any protection against that?

It seems no research needed. You would be hit with no airbags, and no helmet. That's bad.

 

[Cliff]

Can anyone lead me to data that shows the benefit (or not) of wearing a helmet in a car equipped with modern airbags?

No.

Toronto Motorsports Park seems to be an outlier in not requiring helmets as the last time I recall this conversation surfacing in a forum, it revolved around their helmets optional policy.

All of the organizations I run with require helmets. Additionally, most of them require frontal head restraints (FHR, formerly known as HANS) in cars with 5 or 6 point restraint systems.

 

[johnnloki]

Haven't driven since it became Canadian Tire Motorsports Park, but I can confirm that when it was Mosport not every open track day required helmets.

Can confirm that Shannonville doesn't require helmets on every open track day.

All aboot the personal liberty, eh?

 

[A3SBQ]

Good topic!.
Now I am happy to have a full open face helmet... [emoji4] [emoji106]
Sub'd for more info...

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[jay745]

I don't think there is study on helmet vs non helmet because it's so asinine that people would ever think to drive on a track without one. I'd be surprised if there were any data out there on this topic.

 

[Crild]

I don't think there is study on helmet vs non helmet because it's so asinine that people would ever think to drive on a track without one. I'd be surprised if there were any data out there on this topic.

There is data. Dead vs not dead.

 

[AR11]

OP I feel a similar curiosity about reading any studies done (that's not to say I'm questioning the merit of helmet on track). If nothing else, its a nice dampener for the buffeting noise of the open windows. I'm sure the rules are in place largely due to requirements by the event's insurance providers.

 

[AR11]

There is data. Dead vs not dead.

This is a fair point. The fact that there are fatalities are HPDE events definitely reminds that airbags aren't quite the invincibility code we might think they are.

 

[Crild]

This is a fair point. The fact that there are fatalities are HPDE events definitely reminds that airbags aren't quite the invincibility code we might think they are.

I've known a couple guys who crashed in recent years and cracked several vertebrae + consussions safety equipment saved their lives.