Motor cycle helmets and facial injuries.

The design of motor cycle helmets has been changing over the years and at the present time there are two basic types in popular use: "full-face" and "jet" helmets. Both helmet types give good protection to the brain, but, one would think, different degrees of facial protection. A special study of traffic crashes has indicated that full-face helmets provide significantly greater protection against facial injury than do jet helmets. The study also indicated that the wearers of full-face helmets have no greater risk of involvement in road traffic crashes than do the wearers of jet helemts. It is suggested that the use of full-face helmets should be encouraged and consideration given to the revision of helmet standards to require the provision of facial protection.