Helmet advice
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The full face helmet airbag thing appears to have come out of a statement from the SCCA in 2004.
The FIA subsequently did independent testing and found it acceptably safe.
SCCA's Doug Gill had this to say:
The airbag deployment test by the FIA concluded no indication of increased risk while wearing a full face helmet during airbag deployment. Hubert Gramling of the FIA also compared data from incidents at events like track days and found no pattern of any injuries while wearing any type of helmet.
Doug Gill doesn't claim to be a safety expert but this is the information he was able to supply.
Thread here:
http://www.nasaforums.com/viewtopic....25153&start=10
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 750
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Originally Posted by TTMartin' timestamp='1323549542' post='21226779
Full face helmets are not recommended for cars with regular seatbelts and air bags.
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The full face helmet airbag thing appears to have come out of a statement from the SCCA in 2004.
The FIA subsequently did independent testing and found it acceptably safe.
SCCA's Doug Gill had this to say:
The airbag deployment test by the FIA concluded no indication of increased risk while wearing a full face helmet during airbag deployment. Hubert Gramling of the FIA also compared data from incidents at events like track days and found no pattern of any injuries while wearing any type of helmet.
Doug Gill doesn't claim to be a safety expert but this is the information he was able to supply.
Thread here:
http://www.nasaforums.com/viewtopic....25153&start=10
Additionally, my brother-in-law being paralyzed (and subsequent death in a nursing home 10 years later) by a low speed airbag incident, makes me painfully aware of the power of and how important occupant positioning is when it comes to airbags.
The statement I read that concerned me was not about the face impacting the inside of the helmet, but, the possibility of the airbag expanding under the chin of the helmet, and hyper extending the neck backwards.
FWIW - The statement about not recommending full-face helmets on cars with airbags is still listed in the 2010 SCCA Timetrials Rules:
3.1.3. C. If full face helmets are used, it is recommended that airbags be disabled for the duration of the event.
On a properly equipped car (roll bar, harness and HANS) a full-face helmet is the way to go.
For Solo with factory belt and airbags just be aware a full-face helmet might not be better, and it may actually be worse.
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From: Santa Cruz, CA, US
re: full face helmets
scca just posted/made a rule based an opinion. fia actually tested it and found no issues.
also weight of helmet helps for neck fatigue when driving long stints, but if you're wearing hans doesn't really matter in an impact.
I
my Stilo. Best helmet I've ever had, but it's not cheap (about $1k for the non carbon one). but if you ever plan to install radios, the ear muffs are amazing. also because of how they do the padding they can be adjusted to fit almost any shaped head perfectly.
scca just posted/made a rule based an opinion. fia actually tested it and found no issues.
also weight of helmet helps for neck fatigue when driving long stints, but if you're wearing hans doesn't really matter in an impact.
I
my Stilo. Best helmet I've ever had, but it's not cheap (about $1k for the non carbon one). but if you ever plan to install radios, the ear muffs are amazing. also because of how they do the padding they can be adjusted to fit almost any shaped head perfectly.
Administrator
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 17,004
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From: Santa Cruz, CA, US
http://www.fiainstitute.com/publicat...for_safety.pdf
Helmet and Airbag Interaction
This project aimed to determine ‘best practice’ for drivers wishing to take production vehicles on the track. Three options for wearing helmets were considered: no-helmet; open faced helmet; or full faced helmet. Two options for airbag status were considered: airbag on and airbag off. It was concluded that a helmet should be worn at all times and that the airbag be activated. There was very little difference between the two helmet types; full faced and open faced, during the test conditions assessed but it is considered that a full faced helmet will provide greater overall protection than an open faced helmet.
I can try to find the full fia test report if you want.
I've always equated it to the argument that suvs are safer than normal sized car because they have more mass in an accident. which is true only in one case. but they're less safe over all because they're more prone to roll and are less safe in most other forms of accidents.
I'll always wear a full face helmet.
Helmet and Airbag Interaction
This project aimed to determine ‘best practice’ for drivers wishing to take production vehicles on the track. Three options for wearing helmets were considered: no-helmet; open faced helmet; or full faced helmet. Two options for airbag status were considered: airbag on and airbag off. It was concluded that a helmet should be worn at all times and that the airbag be activated. There was very little difference between the two helmet types; full faced and open faced, during the test conditions assessed but it is considered that a full faced helmet will provide greater overall protection than an open faced helmet.
I've always equated it to the argument that suvs are safer than normal sized car because they have more mass in an accident. which is true only in one case. but they're less safe over all because they're more prone to roll and are less safe in most other forms of accidents.
I'll always wear a full face helmet.
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 6,420
Likes: 4
From: San Francisco
http://www.fiainstitute.com/publicat...for_safety.pdf
Helmet and Airbag Interaction
This project aimed to determine ‘best practice’ for drivers wishing to take production vehicles on the track. Three options for wearing helmets were considered: no-helmet; open faced helmet; or full faced helmet. Two options for airbag status were considered: airbag on and airbag off. It was concluded that a helmet should be worn at all times and that the airbag be activated. There was very little difference between the two helmet types; full faced and open faced, during the test conditions assessed but it is considered that a full faced helmet will provide greater overall protection than an open faced helmet.
I can try to find the full fia test report if you want.
I've always equated it to the argument that suvs are safer than normal sized car because they have more mass in an accident. which is true only in one case. but they're less safe over all because they're more prone to roll and are less safe in most other forms of accidents.
I'll always wear a full face helmet.
Helmet and Airbag Interaction
This project aimed to determine ‘best practice’ for drivers wishing to take production vehicles on the track. Three options for wearing helmets were considered: no-helmet; open faced helmet; or full faced helmet. Two options for airbag status were considered: airbag on and airbag off. It was concluded that a helmet should be worn at all times and that the airbag be activated. There was very little difference between the two helmet types; full faced and open faced, during the test conditions assessed but it is considered that a full faced helmet will provide greater overall protection than an open faced helmet.
I've always equated it to the argument that suvs are safer than normal sized car because they have more mass in an accident. which is true only in one case. but they're less safe over all because they're more prone to roll and are less safe in most other forms of accidents.
I'll always wear a full face helmet.
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From: Keller, TX
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