Open Face Helmet Injuries and How to Avoid them

Many people ride a motorcycle because of different reasons. Motorcycle riding can be a passion for many riders, while some may commute to work. Motorcycle riding gives you freedom by allowing you to interact with your surroundings, other people and even listening to music.

Riding a motorcycle is a fun activity, but at the same time, it is one of the dangerous activities. Road accidents are prevalent, and no one can completely avoid them. To keep motorcycle riding safe, you need to wear safety gear, and a helmet is the most effective safety headgear.

A helmet protects your head from different kinds of injuries, and many states force law for motorcycle riders to wear a helmet. You just can’t underestimate the importance of a bike helmet.

There are different types of motorcycle helmets, and each type distinctively protects the rider. Open-face helmets and full-face helmets are the most popular among riders, and both helmets have pros and cons.

Today, you will learn about open-face helmet injuries and how to avoid them. Make sure to read the complete article to choose the suitable helmet type for yourself.

Open Face Motorcycle Helmet

As the name suggests, an open-face helmet (¾ helmet) does not cover your face. It only covers the top back and the sides of your head, leaving your face exposed.

Some open-face helmets come with a face shield for little protection to your eyes, while some helmets are entirely open for comfortable riding. Open Face Helmets are perfect for men with beards.

However, open-face helmets are comfortable, but they offer the least protection to your head and face. To better understand this, let me quickly compare an open-face helmet with a full-face helmet.

Open Face Helmet vs. Full Face Helmet

All motorcycle riders have their preferences regarding motorcycle helmets. Following are the main differences between open-face and full-face helmets.

• Open face helmet is cooler as compared to a full-face helmet.
• In comparison to a full-face helmet, an open-face helmet is much lighter.
• There is no face protection in an open face helmet
• Open face helmets are noisier as compared to full-face helmets
• Full face helmets come with an adjustable visor that is usually not available in all open face helmets

Based on the above differences, it is clear that open face helmets are not suitable because they don’t offer any protection to your eyes and face.

Let’s have a look at open-face motorcycle helmet injuries.

Open Face Helmet Injuries

Since open face helmets are the least protective therefore may result in severe injuries during accidents.

Riding a motorcycle wearing an open-face helmet, there is a chance that dust and smoke might irritate you or a fly may enter your eyes. You may check these motorcycle helmets with a tinted visor to prevent your eyes. Not only is your face unsafe, but your head, brain, and even neck are also at risk.

According to a recent study, both full-face and open-face helmets prevent head injuries. Full face helmets are more effective as they reduce 41% chances of head injury, brain contusion, and craniofacial fractures than open face helmets.

Based on this research, full-face helmets are much better than open-face helmets. An Open face helmet might result in the following injuries.

1. Head and Brain Injuries

Although most of the open-face helmets are safety certified, they cover the top and back of your head but still do not protect the way they are designed to. Riding with an open-face helmet, you may experience a concussion or a permanent loss of brain functions by quick deceleration.

Sometimes you may become dependent on your family after traumatic brain injuries. Some head injuries may last for some weeks or months, like loss of consciousness, sleeping problems, ringing ears, and dizziness, etc.

2. Eye Injuries

Since there is no face protection in an open-face helmet, there are high chances of eye injuries. Either the insects in the air can damage your eyes, or the stones flicked from vehicles may hit your eyes.

3. Neck Injuries

Open face helmet leaves your face exposed, and it does not mean that only your face is unsafe but, open face helmets sometimes also result in neck and spine injuries. You may encounter a limited movement in your neck for an extended period.

4. Damage the Sense of Hearing

Motorcycle riding wearing an open-face helmet may damage the sense of hearing because you continuously experience a high wind noise. Sometimes you will feel temporary damage, but in severe cases, you may find problems understanding conversations. You may check these motorcycle helmets to reduce wind noise.

5. Internal Injuries and Broken Bones

Facing an accident while riding a motorcycle may result in some internal injuries and bleeding. If you are riding at high speed wearing an open-face helmet, you may experience broken bones when subjected to crashes. Collar’s bones are at increased risk when you ride with ¾ helmets.

How to Avoid Open Face Helmet Injuries?

Knowing the fact that open face helmets are very dangerous and result in several injuries. It does not mean that you should stop riding a motorcycle. There are many ways to avoid open-face helmet injury. The most effective methods are listed below.

1. Choose the Full-Face Helmet

The easiest way to avoid open-face helmet injuries is to choose a full-face helmet. I know full-face helmets also have some cons, and many riders don’t feel comfortable with them. But believe me, safety is essential during motorcycle riding.

I suggest choosing a lightweight, comfortable, and breathable full-face helmet to keep yourself secured during motorcycle riding. I have also shortlisted lightweight helmets for neck pain.

2. Scan the Road Ahead

One common way used by good riders is to scan the road ahead. Read the places where you need to lower your speed and where are the exit points.

3. Keep your Speed Low

The most effective way to avoid open-face helmet injuries is to keep the speed low. According to research, there is a strong correlation between speed and accident, so try to keep your speed low for a safe journey.

4. Make your Helmet Fit Perfectly

If you want to ride with an open-face helmet, try to make the helmet fit perfectly. I should not hold much tight or loose, but try to keep it flexible so that it does not flip away from your head during crashes.

5. Maintain a considerable difference with other Vehicles

You can avoid the open-face helmet injury by maintaining a sufficient difference from other vehicles. Avoid lane splitting and keep your focus on the road while riding a motorcycle.

Conclusion

There is no doubt that open-face helmets are less protective compared to full-face helmets. Riding a motorcycle wearing an open-face helmet will result in injuries, but you just can’t overlook open-face helmet benefits.

You can choose any of the methods to avoid open-face helmet injuries. Still, if you love open-face helmets, you can stick to them because something is better than riding without a helmet.