It’s in the stars
The UK has initiated a program that
might give helmet buyers something to think about besides fit and looks.
At a recent Road Safety Expo, UK Road Safety Minister announced that research had shown that
legally-approved street helmets can vary in “safety performance”
by up to 30 per cent.
Allowing riders to choose helmets that
clearly indicate their level of protective ability could save dozens
of lives a year, he added.
So the Safety Helmet Assessment and
Rating Program will rate helmets using a scale of one to five stars, based on their performance
in government-commissioned laboratory tests.
Hmhhh, are the days of the "DOT" sticker numbered? Hopefully.
ps, I wear an Arai, but it’s more for the fit and features than any belief on my part that it will do any better of a job of protecting my head in an accident than a $100 helmet.
Not just quantitative measurements, but also some really study of what the standards should be. I thought that Motorcyclist article made a pretty good argument that the Snell standard is too high, with the result that helmets that meet it aren’t as effective in the more common, lower energy accidents that happen more often. Also, maybe the standards should be based on the impact tolerance of the average 40 year old rider’s head rather than that of 20 year olds.
http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/gearbox/motorcycle_helmet_review/
About time. Any body that has read the above will want some quantitative testing done. I just wish that manufacturers would implement COST 327 and bring usthe next generation of helmets already.
This new standard will force manufacturers to evolve and compete on more than just price. Impact testing and energy dissipation is my primary concern when buying a helmet