Statistics and Helmets: Linking Data to Emotion
Recently I had coffee with my past professor and friend Chris Nachtsheim, (PhD. Operations Research) of the University of Minnesota. Chris and I often discuss how the world looks through the eyes of a statistician. Most events that we see or experience can be described numerically. Knowing this is important, since one can remove a degree of speculation and emotion out of everyday “crazy” events we witness, by locating available statistical data to help interpret what we experience. One data group, particularly useful to me, pertains to helmets use. The statistics on helmet use is significant, thus providing quite a variety of statistical method and data-my real interest.
I often see children (just like me when I was a kid) not using a helmet. In the past, I would jump to the conclusion of an inevitable brain injury for one that does not wear a helmet. The statistics however, do not support that emotional speculation. Having said that, this is one of those areas where the statistics show how a $10 dollar helmet produces significant positive results when an accident does happen. The old saying is “the natural state of any two wheeled vehicle is on it side”! All my helmets unfortunately, have indicated that that in fact is true.
I have included a link here to the Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute (BHSI). These folks have done a great job (on all sides of the issue) of gathering a number of third party statistics that are interesting and informative both from a research and safety perspective.
