A study on helmet safety commissioned by insurance company Direct Line and carried out by Transport Research Laboratory (TRL) revealed has found that wearing a ski helmet can dramatically reduce the severity of a collision by almost four times.
Crash test dummies were used to simulate collisions with a tree at 10, 20, and 30 KPH both with and without a ski helmet on. Three key areas of the body were monitored for the force of the impacts and likely injuries to the head, neck, and chest.
The study found that skiers wearing a helmet experience at least two thirds less force than not wearing one as it helps to absorb the impact over a larger surface area, as well as in the lining, compared to the head alone. At just 20KPH the study found the head encounters nearly two tonnes of force if the skier is not wearing a helmet.
“The evidence supports the on-going debate about skiers wearing helmets on the slopes and as more and more of us take up the sport the benefits and research surrounding head protection are ever the more prevalent.”