Department for Transport
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New motorcycle helmet safety ratings unveiled ahead of the Motorcycle Show
New safety ratings for motorcycle helmets were published today by Road Safety Minister Paul Clark.
An extra 25 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 175.
Paul Clark said:
"If all riders wore the safest helmets available 50 lives could be saved each year.
"That is why I am delighted to publish these new SHARP ratings ahead of the Motorcycle Show. I very much hope that riders will get a chance to visit the SHARP stand at the show to get more information about the scheme before purchasing their new helmets.
"By providing the best safety information through SHARP, 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 tragedies we see on the roads 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.
An independent report on SHARP was published today by the Transport Research Laboratory. To view the report visit: http://www.trl.co.uk/online_store/reports_publications/trl_reports/cat_vehicle_engineering/report_technical_response_to_the_unpublished_paper_critical_evaluation_of_the_sharp_motorcycle_helmet_rating_by_nj_mills.htm
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)
Arashi Phantom 4*
Arashi Steel 2 3*
Caberg V2X Carbon 3*
Duchinni D711 4*
Fusion G921 2*
Fusion RR700 3*
Fusion Tranz 1*
LEM Genesis 4*
LEM Kinetic 3*
LS2 Mono 4*
LS2 Shogun 4*
LS2 Cyber 4*
Nankai SA07 4*
OSBE Highway 4*
OSBE X Race 4*
Scorpion EXO 1000 4*
Scorpion EXO 750 4*
Scorpion EXO 400 3*
Shoei XR1100 5*
Suomy Vandal 5*
V Can V100F 4*
V Can V210 3*
Vemar V1.01.1 Eclipse 4*
Viper RS V99 3*
Viper RS V111 3*
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.
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