1: statistics and the way they are used [most of the time] are social engineering.

unless you know how to twist them yourself, i wouldn;t take *too much* stock in them.

2: define 'work' in terms of a cycle helmet.

if it involves going over the bars are <20mph, they're probably going to get the protection you need to avoid talking with a speak and spell for the rest of your life. if it involves a bus running over your face, i'm not sure anything would save you.

the things to bear in mind are: everyone crashes, and cycle helmets are designed for a purpose

with respect to veryone crashing, a certain amount of non-luck is involved. people have walked away from 40 or 50mph crashes on the tdf with a bit of skin missing. i broke my shoulder tripping off a curb. when it comes to breaking bones and other parts, there are so many variables that it's quite difficult to predict with any accuracy the outcome of those events.

when it come to helmets, their designs have limits- ie. protection from [relatively] light imacts, with plenty of cooling at a light weight.

if you're not comfortable with that amount of protection, -given the unpredictability of crashing and its outcomes- id say the worst thing you could do would be to ditch the helmet. get a moto-cross helmet if you really want, just bear that it still has design limits, and those probably still don't involve a face vs. bus scenario.

fsnl
sparky