Motorcycle helmets rated in new British standards
The Staff of Clutch and Chrome
June 13th 2008
The British
Department for Transport is hoping to save biker lives with
a new system to rate
motorcycle helmets.
Fifty lives a
year could be saved by ground-breaking motorcycle helmet
safety ratings according to Road Safety Minister Jim
Fitzpatrick. Ratings for 56 of the most popular full face
helmets on the market were published after testing by SHARP
- the Safety Helmet Assessment and Rating Program set up
in a world-first by the Department for Transport last year.
The SHARP tests - which award ratings of between one and
five stars - showed that the safety performance of helmets
can vary by as much as 70%.
"Too many motorcyclists - 599 in 2006 - are dying on our
roads," Jim Fitzpatrick said, "They account for just 1% of all road traffic, but for
19% of all those killed. "But if all riders wore the safest
helmets available 50 lives could be saved each year. That is
why we started the innovative SHARP scheme and are delighted
to publish the first results today."
"Helmets from across a wide price range and from a variety
of manufacturers have received four or five stars - so all
riders should be able to find a high-scoring helmet in a
size and style that fits them and at a price they want to
pay."
All helmets must meet minimum legal safety standards but the
SHARP scheme uses a wider range of tests to provide riders
with more information on how much protection a helmet can
provide in a crash. The objective advice will help riders to
chose the safest helmet suitable for them.
Here are the helmets rated by Britain's Department for
Transport;
|
Make |
Model
|
Rating |
Make |
Model |
Rating |
|
AGV |
Airtech |
4 |
Nitro |
N33OVX |
2 |
| |
K
series |
3 |
|
N755VX |
4 |
| |
S4 |
5 |
|
N810VX |
4 |
| |
Ti Tech |
4 |
|
N820VX |
4 |
|
Airoh |
Leox |
3 |
|
N1430VX |
4 |
| |
Speed
Fire |
4 |
|
N1600VN |
4 |
|
Arai |
Astro |
3 |
Nolan |
N62 |
4 |
| |
Condor |
2 |
Premier |
Monza |
4 |
| |
GP5x |
5 |
Roof |
R010
Diversion |
4 |
| |
RX-7 |
3 |
RST |
Cobra
Vent |
4 |
| |
Viper
GT |
3 |
|
Racevent |
3 |
|
Arashi |
Viper |
4 |
Shark |
RSF 2i |
4 |
|
Bell |
M1 |
5 |
|
RSI |
4 |
|
Box |
BX4 |
2 |
|
RSR2 |
5 |
| |
BX2 |
4 |
|
S500
Air |
4 |
|
HJC |
CL-ST |
3 |
|
S800 |
4 |
| |
CS-12 |
2 |
Shoei |
Raid II |
3 |
| |
FG-14 |
3 |
|
X-Spirit |
4 |
| |
FG-15 |
4 |
|
Extreme |
3 |
| |
FS-10 |
3 |
|
Gunwind |
3 |
| |
HQ-1 |
5 |
|
Spec 1R |
3 |
| |
IS-16 |
2 |
Takachi |
TK-30 |
2 |
|
KBC |
WR1X |
3 |
Urban |
N20 |
3 |
| |
VR2R |
2 |
Vemar |
TAI2K |
3 |
|
Lazer |
Fibre Pro |
4 |
|
VSREV |
2 |
| |
FirbeD1 |
4 |
X-Lite |
X601 |
4 |
| |
LZ6 |
5 |
|
N602 |
4 |
| |
Tornado |
2 |
|
|
|
Source: Department for Transport
Manufacturers
achieving a score of 5 stars, the highest ranking, with at
least one of their models;
AGV, Arai,
Bell, HJC, Lazer and Shark. However, not all motorcycle
helmets on the British market have been tested.
Although full face helmets
represent the largest part of the market at approximately
80%,
'flip front' style helmets are gaining in popularity so SHARP will consider assessing these helmets this
summer, before completing the remaining full face helmets.
Open face helmets will be considered later.
Currently
motorcycle helmets sold in the UK must meet the minimum standards of UN ECE
Regulation 22.05 or comply with British Standard 6658:1985.
SHARP assesses the extent to which helmets offer protection
above these minimum requirements.
The SHARP tests and assessments are valid for all types
of helmet and The Department For Transport promises further results will be released on a rolling
basis through the remainder of 2008. |
