WIREDGOV

World-first motorcycle helmet ratings could save 50 lives a year

DEPARTMENT FOR TRANSPORT News Release (094) issued by The Government News Network on 12 June 2008

Fifty lives a year could be saved by ground-breaking motorcycle helmet safety ratings revealed today by 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 Programme 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%. Jim Fitzpatrick said:

"Too many motorcyclists - 599 in 2006 - are dying on our roads. 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. 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
      AGV                         Airtech           4
                                  K Series          3
                                  S4                5
                                  Ti Tech           4
      Airoh                       Leox              3
                                  Speed Fire        4
      Arai                        Astro             3
                                  Condor            2
                                  GP5x              5
                                  RX-7              3
                                  Viper GT          3
      Arashi                      Viper             4
      Bell                        M1                5
      Box                         BX4               2
                                  BX2               4
      HJC                         CL-ST             3
                                  CS-12             2
                                  FG-14             3
                                  FG-15             4
                                  FS-10             3
                                  HQ-1              5
                                  IS-16             2
      KBC                         VR1X              3
                                  VR2R              2
      Lazer                       Fibre Pro         4
                                  Fibre D1          4
                                  LZ 6              5
                                  Tornado           2
      Nitro                       N330VX            2
                                  N755VX            4
                                  N810VX            4
                                  N820VX            4
                                  N1430VX           4
                                  N1600VN           4
      Nolan                       N62               4
      Premier                     Monza             4
      Roof                        R010 Diversion    4
      RST                         Cobra Vent        4
                                  Racevent          3
      Shark                       RSF 2i            4
                                  RSI               4
                                  RSR2              5
                                  S500 Air          4
                                  S800              4
      Shoei                       Raid II           4
                                  XR-1000           3
                                  X-Spirit          4
      Suomy                       Extreme           3
                                  Gunwind           3
                                  Spec 1R           3
      Takachi                     TK-30             2
      Urban                       N20               3
      Vemar                       TAI2K             3
                                  VSREV             2
      X-Lite                      X601              4
                                  X602              4 

2. The SHARP tests and assessments are valid for all types of helmet and further results will be released on a rolling basis through the remainder of 2008. Full face helmets represent the largest part of the market (approx. 80%), but 'flip front' style helmets are gaining in popularity. Therefore, SHARP will consider assessing these helmets this summer, before completing the remaining full face helmets. Open face helmets will be considered later.

3. Motorcyclists are one of our most vulnerable road user groups. In 2006, 23,326 motorcyclists were injured in accidents, with 599 being killed.

4. Head injuries occur in 80% of all motorcyclist fatalities and in 70% of these the head injury is the most serious.

5. Currently no comparative rating system is available on motorcycle helmets anywhere in the world.

6. 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