What is the primary purpose of wearing a helmet while riding?

Wearing a helmet while riding is predominantly about enhancing safety, and its primary function is to protect the head during a crash. Helmets are designed to absorb impact energy, drastically reducing the risk of head injuries, which are common in motorcycle accidents. The structure of a helmet includes a hard outer shell and an inner foam liner, which work together to disperse the force of an impact over a larger area and minimize the risk of serious injuries to the skull and brain.

While improving visibility and keeping the head warm may offer some secondary benefits, they do not constitute the primary purpose of helmet use. Similarly, although complying with motorcycle laws can be an important factor in helmet use—since many states require riders to wear them—this is not the fundamental reason for their design. Safety remains the foremost intention behind wearing helmets when riding a motorcycle.