Well, the general ASTM standard isn’t for concussions.
It’s not as simple as buying a helmet and since it’s been approved for sale you’re protected.
But private standards and technologies like MIPS are indeed designed to prevent them. How much they help I don’t know.
Virginia tech rates helmets based on how much impact shock they’ve reduced with the express goal of rating which models are most likely to reduce concussive trauma and the first year of testing only four earned five star ratings. Now those numbers are a lot higher with roughly half getting 5 stars, all except one, an inflatable helmet design, having MIPS.
Whether they actually reduce injuries, increase injuries, or keep them roughly the same, out in the real world where both closer overtaking by autos and risk compensation (wearer feels more protected and therefore takes more risks) factors into overall safety, I also don’t know.
One thing I definitely agree on is that helmets are not a substitute for good infrastructure as is the narrative in the states. They can add an extra layer of safety for those who want it if and only if they’re first protected from cars.
Otherwise it becomes victim blaming.
Because even the best helmet does little if a light truck literally runs you over.
Where it gets funky is that a 5 star rated helmet can help people who ride fast and agressively if they misjudge and fall… but for bicycle commuters, riding fast and agressively is usually a self defense tactic to prevent them from getting hit by inattentive turners, obstacles in the bike lane, careless door openers, etc.
Which means that many to most of those people if they had protected cycleways and intersections would not even ride agressively in the first place.
