Originally Posted by
closetbiker
the fact of the matter is a helmet is made to withstand a fall to the ground, not an impact with a motor vehicle.
That is a very important fact. But a car can snap both your legs, break your back and send you falling to the ground, where your helmet will prevent you from having brain trauma. Thus allowing you to be of sound mind and capable of recover from your other injuries.
Calling a helmet a red herring, or false protection is foolish. There is absolutely no overkill or exaggeration in the practical protection of wearing a helmet when you ride a bike, they work. This is important for riders to consider when they choose to wear a helmet or not. And it is a choice, just like one can choose to only ride in parks and MUPs and never in streets.