The matter of helmets versus turbans comes up often around the world. Now researchers have studied the role turban styles play when tied by male and female Sikhs cyclists. The paper An Assessment of Sikh Turban’s Head Protection in Bicycle Incident Scenarios is by Dr. Mazdak Ghajari from Imperial’s Dyson School of Design Engineering and Dr. Gurpreet Singh from Imperial’s Department of Materials and the Sikh Scientists Network. The study shows how turbans mitigate impacts on the head during cycling incidents. The findings allowed the researchers to make evidence-based recommendations so that Sikhs who wear turbans might benefit from the best head protection possible: covering a larger area of the head with a thick layer of fabric; placing energy-absorbing materials between the layers of the fabric to increase impact duration and reduce force, reducing the risk of skull fractures; and reducing the friction between the layers of fabric to reduce the rotational force transmitted to the head, thus the risk of brain injuries. ‘The study provides important evidence that we hope will point the wider scientific community to invest in the best headgear fabrics to absorb shock,’ says Dr Gurpreet Singh. Ruth Purdie OBE, Chief Executive of The Road Safety Trust, which funded the research, said, 'The findings of this study could really support Sikh cyclists and help reduce their risks of head injury.' Old pictures of Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s Khalsa Fauj also show Sikhs wearing turban helmets. That could also be an avenue to explore.
Like what you're reading? Subscribe to our top stories.
Liv Forum provides a digest of analysis on major issues facing Indian (East) Panjab and Sikhs globally.
In accordance with our Privacy Policy, we will never share or sell the information of our subscribers.
