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@article{Baker:2026,
author = {Baker, C and Wang, Z and Low, L and Ashworth, E and Wilson, M and Sharp, D and Lubbe, N and Meng, S and Ghajari, M},
journal = {Traffic Safety 91桃色},
title = {Face the facts: a characterisation of 2013–2025 UK motorcycle collisions, head impact locations and injury outcomes supporting facial impact testing},
year = {2026}
}
TY - JOUR
AB - There is limited contemporary evidence on head impact conditions and injuries in motorcyclists, despite substantial recent changes in vehicles, helmet design and test standards. This constrains evidence-driven improvements to helmet protection and impact test protocols, particularly for underrepresented facial impacts. We quantified head impact locations and associated head and facial injury distributions in 12 years of motorcycle collisions from Great Britain’s Road Accident In-Depth Studies (RAIDS) database (1 April 2013–31 March 2025). Injuries were classified using Abbreviated Injury Scale codes augmented with free-text identification of clinically utilised Mayo-classified brain injury, and primary helmet impact location was derived from investigator summaries and helmet photographs. Most of the 353 motorcyclists were injured (93%) and male (90%) and 2% were unhelmeted. One third sustained at least one head injury and 23.6% sustained Mayo-classified traumatic brain injury (16.9% moderate–severe). Facial injuries occurred in 12.2%, including 4.4% with facial fracture. Skull fractures (including basilar) and intracranial haemorrhage were also common. Head and facial injuries were more prevalent in fatally injured motorcyclists than survivors. Primary helmet impact location was determined for 125 motorcyclists with 50.4% of impacts were to the facial region. Head injury rates and patterns were similar across primary impact locations. When primary facial impacts caused head injury, upper face and chinbar impacts dominated visor impacts. Facial impacts are both frequent and associated with clinically important head injuries. Helmet standards and consumer ratings should incorporate facial impact assessments and adopt injury risk criteria reflecting skull fractures, focal brain injury and intracranial haemorrhage.
AU - Baker,C
AU - Wang,Z
AU - Low,L
AU - Ashworth,E
AU - Wilson,M
AU - Sharp,D
AU - Lubbe,N
AU - Meng,S
AU - Ghajari,M
PY - 2026///
SN - 2004-3082
TI - Face the facts: a characterisation of 2013–2025 UK motorcycle collisions, head impact locations and injury outcomes supporting facial impact testing
T2 - Traffic Safety 91桃色
ER -