Motorcycle helmet safety ratings introduced
Date: 18/06/2008 12:00:00
A safety helmet rating scheme could save the lives of 50 motorcyclists a year, according to government experts.
Statistics from the Safety Helmet Assessment and Rating Programme (SHARP), organised by the Department for Transport, show the performance of helmets in collisions can vary by up to 70 per cent.
Experts from SHARP have released figures on the safety standards of 56 of the most popular full face helmets bought by riders.
Road safety minister Jim Fitzpatrick said "If all riders wore the safest helmets available 50 lives could be saved each year".
Helmets are given star ratings from one to five by the SHARP system, introduced by the government in 2007.
Riders can check out the ratings online and new motorcyclists could use the site to make a decision on a first helmet. Some bikers also use the internet to compare
motorbike insurance policies.
Previous studies showing there were differences between how safety helmets performed first prompted officials to look into developing a star rating system.