Remember when you were a kid first learning to ride a bike and your mom insisted on you wearing a helmet, knee pads and the whole nine yards of safety? But after a few years (or months) of riding, you eighty-sixed the helmet and pads in favor of riding at your own risk and to this day, you’re still riding risky. We’ve got a few reasons for you to change that behavior and pick up a new helmet.

Helmets Protect Brains and Beauty

Head injuries are the number one reason to always, always wear a helmet while biking, skating or riding a motorcycle. By wearing a helmet, you cut your risk of brain and head injury by 50 percent and you also reduce the chance of injury to your face or neck by 33 percent.

Wearing a Helmet Sets a Good Example

Did you ever hear the phrase “Do as I say not as I do!” when you were growing up? Remember how frustrating and confusing it was to have a grown-up tell you not to do something only to watch them do that exact thing themselves? The same thing happens when you ride a bike or hop on a skateboard without a helmet in front of your kids.

Helmets Protect from Environmental Elements

Helmets keep your hair dry during a rainy bike ride and also help to keep you warm and toasty in cooler weather. They also help provide sun protection for your head and scalp during sunny, summer days.

They Help Drivers See You

Helmets are typically decorated with bright colors and designs but many of them also come with reflector lights or a place for a headlamp to attach so you can be seen any time of day. If you can’t find a helmet with reflectors or a headlamp attachment, you can purchase reflector tape.