FRIDAY, JUNE 5, 2015
 Your helmet is your last line of defense should you have a motorcycle accident. While it's designed to be tough, its integrity can be compromised in a number of ways. For this reason,it's important that you avoid these three helmet usage mistakes.
Keeping Your Helmet for Too Long
Your helmet is designed to protect your head from the shock of severe impact forces only once. After that, replacement is mandatory. The reason is that the expanded polystyrene layer inside the outer shell does not completely recover after absorbing the shock of an accident. This layer reduces the shock to your head by compressing. It's this "give" that protects your head. Because the polystyrene doesn't completely expand back afterwards, its ability to compress is reduced should you get into another accident.
Your helmet is made from various synthetic materials that are susceptible to degradation over time. This degradation is due to wear and tear and exposure to environmental chemicals over the course of years. Exactly when it should be replaced is a subject of debate. However, Snell recommends replacement after five years. If your helmet has been frequently dropped or has experienced temperature extremes, it's best to retire it. If it gets exposed to harsh substances such as gasoline or solvents, it should also be replaced.
Putting Your Helmet in the Wrong Places
Never hang your helmet on the mirrors, backrest or any other protuberance. This potentially compresses the expanded polystyrene at the contact points. Place your helmet on a flat surface in a secure area. Keep your helmet away from the gas tank to avoid exposure to gas fumes.
Improper Cleaning Practices
Don't use petroleum-based cleaning fluids since these can degrade and weaken your helmet. This is especially true if your helmet is made from polycarbonate. People often use window cleaner to clean bugs off their polycarbonate face shield. This is a mistake because some window cleaners use ammonia, which breaks down polycarbonate.
Never use cleaners with abrasives because they will scratch the face shield, which will increase glare at night. Avoid strong cleaning agents not recommended by the manufacturer. The safest way to remove bugs from your helmet and shield is to soak them for a few minutes using a soft cloth soaked with warm water. This will soften the bugs so that they can be wiped off.
Motorcycle helmets are designed and built to protect your head from the extreme shock forces of an accident. How long they remain this way depends on how well you take care of it.
Your safety is our priority. Call Auto Insurance Discounters at (816) 252-2255 for more information on Kansas City motorcycle insurance.
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