STANFORD, CALIFORNIA — Wearing helmets may reduce risk of serious injury to the millions of people around the world riding bicycles, but it turns out the type of helmet also matters. <br /> <br />Researchers from Stanford University found that helmets equipped with airbag technology offer five times more protection than your standard foam ones, according to Reuters. <br /> <br />The test was conducted using two test dummies — one wearing a foam helmet, and another with an airbag helmet. Both were then dropped from varying heights to simulate an accident. <br /> <br />Conventional helmets may prevent skull fractures during accidents, but don’t often protect against concussions and other similar head injuries. <br /> <br />In lieu of foam as protection, airbag helmets are inflated with helium, and worn like a collar around the neck. Sensors monitor the cyclist’s normal movements, and deploy automatically once they detect something abnormal, such as a collision. <br /> <br />Upon deployment, an inflated hood is released from the collar. The hood covers most of the head and absorbs shock during impact. <br /> <br />The researchers warn however, that the airbag helmets may pose a bigger risk if not deployed properly. <br /> <br />The helmets are made by Swedish company Hovding and are currently only available in Europe.
