Ski crash study offers verdict on helmets The study, in association with the insurance company Direct Line, simulated collisions with a crash test dummy hitting a tree at speed, up to 12mph with and without a helmet - and with a helmet at 19mph. A proposed test at the same speed without a helmet was not carried out as results suggested the test would destroy the dummy, and such a crash would kill a human. The study also found the compression force on a skier or boarders neck during a collision was reduced when wearing a helmet, but not enough to significantly decrease the risk of serious neck injuries, such as a fractured vertebrae. The test used dummies to simulate on-mountain collisions Mark Riddell, group testing manager at TRL, said: "Head injuries can be life threatening. When you consider that during the collision at 12 mph, the head experienced a force of nearly two tonnes, this is an incredible amount of strain to be put under. This research supports the argument to wear an approved ski helmet on the slopes. Recent seasons have seen an increase in helmet use on slopes across the world, but research shows there has not been a reduction in fatalities. Head injuries make up less than 20 per cent of all slope injuries, and although they occur as a result of a collision, it is more commonly because of impact with the slope. Tom Bishop, head of travel insurance at Direct Line, said the provider does not enforce the use of helmets in its policies, however, it does "strongly encourage" the use of helmets when on the slopes. "We deal with 3,000 winter sports claims per year, the majority of which will be medical, and unfortunately three or four of these will be fatalities," he said.