What’s the problem?
Millions of Americans ride bicycles, but less than half wear bicycle helmets. In 2025 the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported 1,166 bicyclist fatalities in motor vehicle crashes in the US. Over 60 percent of these 2025 fatalities involved cyclists who were not wearing helmets.
Bicycle helmets prevent 50-60 percent of bike-related head injuries or deaths for all ages.
Helmets primarily protect against linear impacts that cause skull fractures and brain injuries.
Wearing a properly fitted helmet every time you and your children ride a bicycle is one important risk minimization and prevention method.
Who’s at risk?
Any bicyclist who does not wear a bicycle helmet is at increased risk of head injury or death.
Is there a significant quality difference between expensive and cheap bike helmets?
One of the biggest differences between a cheap and an expensive helmet is the shell material.
Budget helmets are almost always made from polycarbonate, a type of plastic that absorbs impact by flexing.
Polycarbonate is cheap to manufacture and gets the job done, but it comes with two major drawbacks: it’s heavier, and it degrades faster over time, especially with prolonged sun exposure.
More expensive helmets, on the other hand, use fiberglass composites, carbon fiber blends, or even full carbon fiber shells. Fiberglass helmets are stronger and lighter than polycarbonate, while carbon fiber helmets are the lightest and most rigid.
This weight difference is significant, as cheaper helmets can weigh 3.5 lbs. (56 oz.) or more, while a premium carbon fiber helmet can be as light as 2.6 lbs. (42 oz.). That may not seem like a huge difference, but over a long ride, a lighter helmet reduces neck strain and fatigue.
You’ll feel it especially at high speeds, where a heavier helmet puts more pressure on your neck with every movement.
Bicycle Helmet Safety Standards
The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) sets the standards for bicycle helmets sold in the United States. Approved helmets will have a "CPSC" sticker inside the helmet and will say they are CPSC-certified on the outside of their packaging.
The CPSC also recognizes certification by Snell and ASTM.These safety standards ensure that an approved helmet will protect you in most kinds of bicycle crashes. Other kinds of helmets, such as batting helmets and construction hats, are made for different purposes and may not protect you.Remember, always wear your helmet and be safe when riding. It only takes one fall!!!
