A new safety rating for bicycle helmets allows NSW riders to choose helmets based on star rating for additional level of safety.

 

Based on the ANCAP safety ratings for motor vehicles, the new helmet Safety Testing and Assessment Ratings (STAR) aims to provide a simplified safety score for bicycle helmets. NSW Crashlab is where all this new testing happens, where Transport for NSW technicians conduct examinations of new helmet models using methods such as vertical drops, a strap strength test, and drop tests with moving platforms.

The ratings associated with each helmet correspond to the protection level; for instance, one star means the helmet ‘meets the crash protection required by recognised helmet standards’ in Australia, while five stars means the helmet is ‘exceptional in crash protection and well above the recognised helmet standards’.

The push for this new safety rating follows inquests into fatal accidents where victims were wearing helmets that met the Australian Standard, recommending that the Australian Standard should be treated as a baseline minimum performance requirement.

‘By wearing a five-star rated helmet you are 2-2.5 times less likely to sustain a serious head injury than if you were wearing a one-star helmet’, said John Graham, Minister for Roads.

‘The price of a new helmet doesn’t always indicate how safe it is’, said Jo Haylen, Minister for Transport. ‘This new safety rating gives bike riders and parents the information they need to make an informed choice on what helmet is safest, and best for them. Everyone should check out the Helmet STAR program and pick up the best helmet in their price range.’

Ratings for 61 helmets are now publicly available in categories including mountain bike, road, recreational/skate, general and children’s helmets, with information such as pricing range, and technical reports displayed.

MTB Helmets

Highest Performing (5 Star)

  • FOX Proframe RS mountain bike full-face helmet, retailing at $550 AUD
  • BELL Nomad 2 MIPS mountain bike open-face helmet, retailing at $120 AUD
  • BELL XR Spherical MIPS road helmet, retailing at $379 AUD

Lowest Performing (1 Star)

  • Bell Super Air R Spherical full-face mountain bike helmet, retailing at $500 AUD
  • GIRO Fixture open-face mountain bike helmet, retailing at $85 AUD
  • Entity MH15 open-face mountain bike helmet, retailing at $69.99 AUD
  • Specialized Camber open-face mountain bike helmet, retailing at $80 AUD

Road Helmets

Highest Performing (5 stars)

  • Bell XR Spherical MIIPS road helmet, retailing at $300 AUD
  • Specialized Evade 3 road helmet, retailing at $300 AUD

Lowest Performing (1 star)

  • GIRO Agilis MIPS road helmet, retailing at $170 AUD

Child Helmets

Highest Performing (5 stars)

  • Bluey Toddler, child’s helmet, retailing at $22 AUD
  • Giro Scamp, child’s helmet, retailing at $75 AUD

Lowest Performing (1 star)

  • 99 Bikes (Flite) Speedy Fireman, child’s helmet, retailing at $45 AUD
  • Banwood Classic, child’s helmet, retailing at $79.95 AUD
  • Bell Lil Ripper, child’s helmet, retailing at $79.95 AUD

How does your current helmet rate with this new testing system? Hopefully you’re riding with something highly rated to protect that brain of yours! 

 

Feature image by Karl Reynolds

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