Scientific Helmet Evaluation Cont...

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31 Jul 2007, 06:25 New Government helmet grading system
#1
JohnD
Racer
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: North West UK

Posts: 338
All,
If you plan to buy a crash helmet soon, may I suggest that you wait until after Christmas?
Earlier this year, MotorCycle News broke a story about the quality of crash helmets. They showed that the standards, BS in the UK or Snell in the UK, were minimum standards only, and that the new European standard was worse, in that it was being abused. They had persuaded the Government to set up a grading system, on the lines of the system started in Germany to grade the protection offered to car passengers in a crash.
The helmet system would allow people to decide how much protection they wanted to pay for, when at present you can pay less than £100 or more than £1000 for a helmet that satisfies the existing standards, but may or may not offer any more protection for the cost.
The MSA is aware of the project, but intends to do nothing about it until the FIA does so (personal communication). The MCN article did not say when the system was to be implemented, so I wrote to my MP, asking for information. Below is the letter he obtained from the Junior Minister responsible for 'vehicle safety issues', Jim Fitzpatrick.
As I said before, wait until next year before buying a helmet!

John
______________________________________________

Department for Transport
From the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State
Great Minster House
76 Marsham Street London SW1 P 4DR
Ben Wallace MP House of Commons London
SW1A OAA
Tel: [phone] Fax: [phone] E-Mail: [e-mail]
Web site: www.dft.gov.uk
Our Ref: JF/015893/07
Dear Ben
20 July 2007
Thank you for your letter of 26 June addressed to Stephen Ladyman enclosing correspondence from your constituent John Davies of Lancaster regarding our new system for grading crash helmets. I am replying as I have Ministerial responsibility for vehicle safety issues.
The article to which Mr Davies refers in Motorcycle News (June 13, 2007) announced our plans to create a new safety rating for motorcycle helmets that will enable riders to more easily select a helmet that matches their needs. Our laboratory tests show there are real differences in the safety performance of motorcycle helmets available in the market. Whilst all satisfy the minimum legal requirements, I believe that providing objective advice concerning the level of protection a safety helmet provides will assist riders when making this very important purchasing decision. At this stage, we are not looking to change the law but the scientific evidence gained from this programme may prove valuable in supporting proposals for regulatory change in the future.
I cannot confirm technical details about the form that the safety rating will take, nor an initial list of helmets to be tested. Clearly it will take time to build a complete database, but in the future I hope that there will be a rating for every helmet model. It is our aim to launch the actual scheme towards the end of 2007, so that it could influence helmet performance as early as the 2008 model year range.
We are currently seeking the views of a number of industry stakeholders and will make public further details in due course.
Yours Sincerely
JIM FITZPATRICK



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Today, 04:46
#2
AU N EGL
Veteran
Join Date: Aug 2006
Raleigh, North Carolina

Posts: 1,448


Motorcycle helmets and helmets use in auto racing are TWO different kinds of helmets. Helmets for Karting are a third type. Snell rates these as M for Motorcycle, SA or Special Application for auto racing and K for Karting.

The FIA has another rating system that seperates out motorcycle, from Karting to autoracing helmets.

Motorcycle racing helmets should not be used for automobile racing as the construction and crash zones of the helmets are very different from each other.

Plus automobile racing helmets are normally much lighter with a Carbon / Kevlar composite or Fiberglass / Kevlar composite shell, plus a Nomex liner.
__________________

[trikesrule]

So the advancement (?) of the humble helmet continues........trikes

[TomW]

Firstly, lets be absolutely clear here - Any "Standard" by definition, is an absolute minimum requirement. Anyone ever heard of a "Maximum standard"? No? I didn't think so....

This applies to all things in life, from the strength of your beer, to the size of your shoes, to the insulation rating for the windows in your house. Standards simply define the minimum requirements necessary to qualify for a certain rating - be it thermal insulation rating, percentage volume alcohol rating, or impact safety rating.

So don't be shocked to hear that the Snell test is a "Minimum requirement". It doesn't mean that manufacturers are skimping on safety, it simply means that their product has complied to the minimum standards set by the Snell / DOT, or whatever rating.

This issue is all about weather or not manufacturers should "grade" their products, to show how close they may be to the minimum standards (Snell rating or equivalent), or not.

Personally, I think this is all a bit of a waste of time really. We already have too many different standards relating to helmet safety - to add a further tier of sub-grading within each standard will simply confuse the hell out of people.

What we really need in ONE international standard that all helmets can comply to.

However, it is very easy to get side-tracked by figures and statistics, as really he minimum requirements are not the real problem here...

The most important thing facing both downhill riders and motorcycle users alike - is simply to get the message across WEAR A HELMET!

In this post-Jackass world, the Internet and TV stations are saturated with footage glorifying kids having massive accidents, both in skateparks and on the street. Almost none of them are wearing any basic protection, or helmets.

If you travel to Italy, Greece, or Spain, or any of the Mediterranean countries - Wearing a helmet on a motorcycle is simply optional. More often than not, the helmet is worn dangling off the handle-bars of the bike, and it only ever gets worn on long runs where the comfort factor makes it more appealing to the rider.

So actually, in real life - the difference between the minimum standards set by Snell, EU, DOT etc are relatively insignificant, as they are all relatively similar standards. However, the difference between wearing a crappy toy mountain bike helmet, or a skydiving lid - when compared to wearing a DOT / Snell rated motorsports helmet is absolutely MASSIVE.

This is the REAL issue facing the downhill community.


Motorcycle riders in general are obsessed by statistics, figures, fashion and status. Almost every motorcycle purchase is driven by horsepower, torque ratings, or acceleration figures. And likewise so are their helmet / leather purchases. Every Sunday my local country roads are besieged by blokes on R1s and Fireblades - these guys are usually in their late 40's (As only they can afford the insurance) They are always immaculately attired in the latest colour coded leather, to match their latest new-model bike. And they park up in the carpark of the local biker cafe and talk shit about their bikes all afternoon. And fair play to them - they have an enthusiasm for their hobby, and at least they are not stuck at home in front of the telly!

So what? Maybe one particular helmet had a 3% higher impact rating than another - At the end of the day, it doesn't really matter, so long as they both pass the same minimum requirement. It doesn't matter what helmet they are wearing, when one of these guys gets a little bit too throttle-happy on a blind corner, and the bike high-sides the rider into the path of an oncoming cement lorry. (Which happened last week) Really, when 19 tonnes of concrete truck flattens you in an instant... the helmet really doesn't matter.

So - would all the time and money spent internet-shopping for that perfect helmet have been better spent buying any of the hundreds of perfectly good Snell / DOT rated helmets available, and then taking a few advanced safe-riding courses (Of which there are many available), or joining a motorcycle club and taking the bike to a few track-days to learn how it really handles under pressure?

So here is my point - It doesn't really matter how your helmet compares to others on the market, so long as they ALL comply with a comparable MINIMUM SAFETY STANDARD. Likewise, it just as important to get one that fits correctly, and make sure it is worn correctly.

No helmet, no matter how safe, will make anybody invincible. Safe, sensible riding will keep you alive for far longer than that split-hair difference between the minimum SNELL standard, or DOT standard, or Euro standard, or Disney ACME standard....

Ride hard, Stay safe.


Tom W.

[trikesrule]

Yes an industry standard for helmets where all the major players are on the same ball park is overdue and the same goes for sizing of leathers and well said Tom...........trikes

[trikesrule]

Want to see some fast helmets visit www.speedski.com ........trikes