Department for Transport
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New motorcycle helmet safety ratings unveiled
New safety ratings for motorcycle helmets were published today by Road Safety Minister Jim Fitzpatrick.
An extra 28 motorcycle helmets have been rated by SHARP - the Department for Transport's Safety Helmet Assessment and Rating Programme - taking the total number of ratings published to 125.
To tackle the disproportionate number of motorcyclists killed and injured on the roads the Department for Transport also runs THINK! campaigns such as the 'Take longer to look for bikes' TV and radio adverts. In addition, the THINK! Motorcycle Academy recently announced that it will be sponsoring the British Superbike Championship (BSB) for a sixth consecutive year after independent research showed that 98% of race goers are in favour of THINK! sponsoring BSB and 61% said they were more likely to take further training as a result of visiting the THINK! Motorcycle Academy.
Jim Fitzpatrick said:
"If all riders wore the safest helmets available 50 lives could be saved each year so I am delighted to announce these new SHARP ratings. "By providing the best safety information, reminding drivers of the importance of looking out for bikes and promoting further training and safe riding through the THINK! Motorcycle Academy I hope we can make the roads safer for motorcyclists and reduce the number of terrible tragedies we see each year."
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, which includes important guidance on how to select a good fitting helmet, will help riders to choose the safest helmet suitable for them. 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%. With helmets across a wide price range scoring highly all riders should be able to find a high performing helmet in a size and style that fits them and at a price they want to pay.
For more information about the SHARP programme, visit the SHARP website at http://www.direct.gov.uk/sharp.
Notes to Editors
1. The ratings published today are:
Make Model Rating (out of 5)
AGV K3 4
Arashi Galaxy 3
Arashi Sonic 3
Arashi Turbo 3
Bell M5X 5
Box BX3 Dagger 2
Box BX5 Hurricane 4
Duchinni D701 4
Givi HPS40.1 3
HJC FS 10 Carbon 3
Kawasaki Ninja 4
KBC Magnum 1
KBC TK8 1
KBC XP3 3
Marushin Ikusa 4
Marushin Samura 5
Marushin Shivan 4
Nitro N1700 VF 5
Nuvo SP2 4
RST PC1S 1
Shark S650 4
Shark RSX 5
Vemar VSSEV 1
Vemar VTXE 2
Vemar VXP 3
Marushin M401 2
Nitro F347VN 3
X-Lite X1002 4
2. All final results of SHARP testing can be found at: http://www.direct.gov.uk/sharp.
3. The SHARP tests and assessments are valid for all types of helmet and further results will be released on a rolling basis. Full face helmets represent the largest part of the market (approx. 80%), but 'flip front' style helmets are gaining in popularity and therefore, SHARP announced ratings for some of these helmets in November 2008 and 3 more are included with this latest release. Open face helmets will be considered later.
4. Motorcyclists are one of our most vulnerable road user groups. In 2007, 24,381 motorcyclists were injured in accidents, with 588 being killed.
5. Head injuries occur in 80% of all motorcyclist fatalities and in 70% of these the head injury is the most serious.
6. Currently no comparative rating system is available on motorcycle helmets anywhere in the world.
7. 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.
Public Enquiries: 020 7944 8300
Department for Transport
Website: http://www.dft.gov.uk
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