Bikerworkshop.com

First SHARP Motorcycle Helmet Rating System Helmets Listed

June 12, 2008 - The SHARP (Safety Helmet and Assessment Rating Programme) safety standard rating system for motorcycle helmets is now up and running and the first 56 helmets have been listed.

Road Safety Minister Jim Fitzpatrick estimates that 50 lives per year could be saved if motorcyclists use the list to choose the highest rated helmets.

Ratings for 56 of the most popular full-face helmets on the market were published after testing by SHARP, which was developed by the Department for Transport last year.

Although some questions remain -- and some of the motorcycle helmet manufacturers have questioned the testing methodology and the results -- it's always good for motorcyclists to have another data point to help choose helmets that have the potential of offering high levels of protection.

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.

Following is the list of the first 56 helmets rated by SHARP. Note that some of these helmets may not be available in all countries, and some helmets are sold under different names in different countries. Also, it's difficult to determine whether the construction of these helmets are identical to helmets that are sold in markets outside the UK to meet different safety standard ratings.