New safety ratings
for motorcycle helmets were published today by Road Safety
Minister, Paul Clark.
An additional 25 motorcycle helmets have been rated by SHARP -
the Department for Transport's Safety Helmet Assessment
and Ratings Programme - taking the number of ratings published to
150.
In addition to the new SHARP ratings the Department's
THINK! campaign is reminding riders to take extra care on winding
rural roads when they are out this bank holiday weekend. THINK!
has developed new publicity material this summer for distribution
by road safety officers and retailers with helpful reminders of
how riders can stay safe on rural roads and what they can do to
improve their skills.
Road Safety Minister Paul Clark said:
"If all riders wore the safest helmets available 50
lives could be saved each year. I am therefore delighted to
publish these new SHARP ratings ahead of the August Bank Holiday
when many riders will be taking their bikes out for one of the
last weekends of the summer.
"By providing comprehensive and independent safety
information through SHARP and the THINK! Motorcycle Academy as
well as reminding drivers to look out for bikes, I hope that we
can help to make the roads safer for motorcyclists and see a
reduction in the number of needless tragedies which happen each year."
The 'Bends Require Skill' leaflet formulated by
THINK! and supported by British Super Bike rider John Reynolds
reminds riders how to stay safe on rural roads.
200,000 leaflets have been distributed to retailers, cafes and
local authorities and a second print run of 500,000 is planned.
Helmets sold in the UK 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, helps 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.
For more information about how to develop riding skills please
visit the THINK! Motorcycle Academy website at http://www.dft.gov.uk/tma
Contacts:
Roads ..
Phone: 020 7944 3066
nds.dft@coi.gsi.gov.uk