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