Helmet Impact Zones: Where Do Riders Get Hit Most Often?

Understanding where bicycle helmets are most frequently impacted is essential to improving helmet design and safety standards. Contrary to what standard certification tests cover, the majority of real-world impacts happen in areas often excluded from current testing protocols—especially the sides and lower rim zones.

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Most Frequently Impacted Zones

Across studies analyzing thousands of real-world bicycle crashes, one pattern is consistent: the sides and front of the helmet—particularly near or below the rim—are where riders are most commonly struck.

Sources: Harlos & Rowson (2021), Baker et al. (2023), Bland et al. (2020), Williams (1991), Meng et al. (2023)

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Why These Zones Matter

1. Rim-Level Vulnerability

Helmet certification tests—such as CPSC and even some European standards—focus testing above a specific "test line." However, 46–63% of real-world helmet impacts occur below this line. Riders are frequently struck near the helmet's base, especially in side and frontal falls. These impacts may bypass the most reinforced zones of conventional helmets.

2. Temporal Region Risk

The side of the head, particularly the temporal region, is neurologically vulnerable. Impacts here are not only frequent, but associated with higher risk of severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). Yet, many helmets still offer minimal protection in these areas.

3. Frontal and Facial Exposure

While frontal impacts are the second most common, most helmets offer little to no facial protection. Riders thrown forward—whether from sudden stops or collisions—face a high risk of facial trauma. Traditional helmets reduce facial injuries by only ~23%.

4. Multiple Impacts

Around 16% of helmets involved in crashes show signs of multiple impacts in a single event. This supports the importance of helmet retention systems and impact-dissipating technologies that can endure more than one hit.

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What This Means for Helmet Design

• Side and Lower Coverage: Helmets need better protection around the rim and sides to account for the majority of real-world impacts.

• Rotational Force Management: Systems like MIPS or WaveCel that mitigate rotational forces are crucial, especially in side-angle crashes.

• Facial Safety: For eBike riders in particular—who ride at higher speeds—helmet innovation should begin to account for facial protection.

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The Xnito Difference

Xnito helmets are built with these real-world impact patterns in mind. Our extended rear and side coverage exceeds traditional safety testing zones, and all helmets are NTA 8776 certified, the most rigorous standard for high-speed eBike use. Paired with our built-in lighting system and robust dial-fit design, Xnito is not only meeting the needs of modern riders—we’re redefining what helmet safety should look like.

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References

• Harlos, A., & Rowson, S. (2021). The range of bicycle helmet performance at real world impact locations. Journal of Sports Engineering and Technology, 237, 233–239.

• Baker, C., Yu, X., Patel, S., & Ghajari, M. (2023). A Review of Cyclist Head Injury, Impact Characteristics and the Implications for Helmet Assessment Methods. Annals of Biomedical Engineering, 51, 875–904.

• Bland, M., et al. (2020). Laboratory Reconstructions of Bicycle Helmet Damage. Annals of Biomedical Engineering, 48, 2783–2795.

• Williams, M. (1991). The protective performance of bicyclists' helmets in accidents. Accident; Analysis and Prevention, 23, 119–131.

• Meng, X. et al. (2023). Helmet Impact Distribution in Urban Cycling Incidents, [Pending publication].