The UNSW School of Risk & Safety is looking for motorcyclists who have been involved in an accident in the last 3 months to participate in a research project to investigate Helmet Performance. Please visit the Helmet Study site for more information.

About the study

When correctly fitted and worn, helmets can greatly reduce the incidence and severity of head and brain injury in a wide range of impacts.

Over the past decade, little research has been conducted to assess improvements in helmet technologies and the reductions in head injury risk. The University of New South Wales (UNSW) School of Safety Science is therefore conducting a study on pedal and motor cycle crashes to evaluate helmet performance in the context of injury prevention.

The effectiveness of helmets in real-life crashes will be examined by means of a NSW-based, in-depth pedal and motor cycle accident study. The study involves the collection of detailed information on the crash circumstances, injury, and the helmet damage. The relationship between helmet performance and injury provides the critical elements to identify limitations and effectiveness of the current helmet designs in protecting the user and preventing head injury.

The study is funded by the Australian Research Council (ARC) in partnership with NSW RTA, TAC (Victoria), NRMA, ATSB, and DVExperts International.

Have you recently been involved in a pedal cycle or motor cycle crash?

The school is interested in talking to motorcycle riders of all ages and back-grounds who have recently (i.e. in the past 3 months) been involved in a fall or collision. In particular, they would like to talk to riders who received some impact to the helmeted head, regardless of whether an injury occurred.

If you are interested in helping, visit the website to fill in the application form. Alternatively, you can download a brochure with the form attached from the website, and mail or fax it to the school at the address provided.

Your participation* will involve:

• A brief interview in which the school will obtain information about the circumstances of the crash†.
• If you have been injured, they may seek to obtain specific injury information†.
• If available, they would like to examine your bike, helmet and clothing worn at the time of the crash.
• The Project team may need to take your helmet away for detailed examination.
• If possible, the team may take some basic anthropometrical measurements§; such as height, weight, and head dimensions.

* Participants are free to withdraw from the study at any time without prejudice.
§ The school anticipates that there will be no risks or discomfort related to your involvement in this study.
† Information obtained will remain strictly confidential.