The leading cause of deadly motorcycle accidents is traumatic injury to the brain. This is why safety gear is so essential. By simply utilizing a Department of Transportation certified helmet, the amount of serious motorcycle injuries can be drastically reduced. Wearing additional safety gear such as a leather jacket and pants, gloves, boots and goggles will provide protection against secondary injuries like road rash. Wearing an approved, safe, full-faced helmet is by far the most critical component of safety equipment for a motorcycle though. Motorcycle cruiser magazine provides this advice on selecting the best helmet.

Several facilities around the United States test helmets on a regular basis to ensure their safeness. They run drop tests to deem how useful they are in protecting your head during major impacts. The Department of Transportation rates all the helmets available and only certifies those which are deemed to be safe during an accident. Although other unrated helmets are available on the market, they are considered unsafe by federal standards and should be avoided. If you're going to make the smart decision to use a helmet, it might as well be one that actually works.

Determining whether a helmet will actually stay on your head securely in the event of an accident is one of the key tests you should perform when selecting a helmet to purchase. Tighten the chin-strap and see if you're able to roll the helmet off your head in any way. If the helmet fails this retention test, keep shopping.

Finding a helmet that is properly sized is a key component to ensuring retention during an accident. Full faced helmets should comfortably cradle your head, jaw and cheeks. Some helmet styles may fit the shape of your head better than others so if you feel like a helmet is uncomfortable, keep trying on different models until you find the one that fits your head best. If a helmet is either too big or too small, you may uncomfortable or even less inclined to use the helmet in the first place. If a helmet isn't comfortable in the store, it's going to be even less comfortable on a long road trip. A helmet that fits too tight can even lead to headaches.

There is evidence that wearing a helmet with full facial protection, as compared to one without a face shield, may actually reduce the risk of brain injuries. In a study by the "Annals of Emergency Medicine" they found that motorcyclists involved in an accident who sustained facial fractures were almost 7 times as like to have suffered brain injuries as well. Those with other facial injuries also sustained brain injury at a rate of 3.5 times more often than those without facial injuries. Considering that a UCLA study concluded that one in four motorcyclists suffered facial injuries, you can see how important it is to buy the proper helmet.

By taking the time to shop around and try on multiple helmets to find the right fit, along with buying a full-face DOT certified helmet, you greatly diminish the chances of suffering from brain injury in the event of an accident.