|
MCN reader praises his Shoei XR-1000
helmet after accident
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
‘My head was wedged under a Land Rover for 45minutes...’
MCN reader spends nearly an hour with his head trapped under a 4x4 - and puts his good health down to his helmet.
Low speed crashes are rarely dramatic incidents you’ll remember for the rest of your life, but MCN reader Peter Jones’ encounter with a Land Rover is likely to stay with him forever.
Jones was riding his Triumph Speed Triple to work in Shoreham, West Sussex, at 9am on January 29 2007 when a Land Rover Discovery turned right across his path, forcing him to brake heavily and causing him to lock the front wheel and fall off.
He says he and the bike slid along the road and collided with the car. The bike bounced of the car, but Jone’s head became trapped underneath. The shocked driver attempted to reverse the two-tonne 4x4 to free him, but his helmet was so tightly wedged in he was dragged along the road.
The accident happened close to a police station so emergency services attended in minutes, but it took 45minutes after the accident for the necessary equipment to arrive to free Jones.
“While I was under the car, I was chatting to the paramedics about my arm - I broke it in five places and also my collarbone.”
Although his arm injuries are still keeping him from returning to work, Jones is grateful for the protection his clothing gave him.
He said: “I’ve worn Shoeis for many years, and this is my second XR-1000. It does its job well - my head hit the floor hard and then got trapped under the engine sump, but my head suffered no ill effects. I always have my lids fitted properly, and I shall certainly buy another one. If I hadn’t been wearing decent leathers as well, I think my shoulder would have been more hurt”
“I’ve got my bike back too - the crash only caused minor damage to the side, the radiator and the forks, but until I get movement in my arm again I won’t be able to fix it.”
The driver was facing a careless driving charge, but has since admitted full liability and will attend a driving course at her own expense instead of prosecution.
The Expert
Rob Fairburn, Marketing Manager for Feridax, UK Shoei importer
“THE incredible strength that Mr Jones’ Shoei XR-1000 demonstrated in his recent accident can be attributed to Shoei’s dedication to making the best helmets that can withstand serious impacts.
“The outer shell of the XR-1000 is made from Shoei’s own Advanced Intergrated Matrix materials. This bonds a combination of fibres together to produce a strong and incredibly lightweight shell that is designed to absorb and disperse the force of an impact. “The dual-density EPS (Expanded Polystyrene) inner liner absorbs the force of the impact, cushioning the head from the forces of the accident.
“Together, these two elements of the XR-1000 work together to offer fantastic protection from impacts, whilst offering the rider a lightweight yet extremely strong helmet.”
|
