Transport for NSW and the Transport Accident Commission, Victoria have joined forces in a new partnership working together on the Helmet STAR bicycle helmet rating system (PDF, 139.64 KB) , releasing ratings for more than 50 helmets today.
Melvin Eveleigh, Director at Transport for NSW said the partnership with TAC now makes the program multi-jurisdictional and will help promote bicycle helmet safety beyond New South Wales with the launch of the new website www.helmetstar.com.au
Wearing a properly fitted helmet is one of the simplest and most effective ways riders can protect themselves on our roads and shared paths. Research shows helmets can reduce head injuries by about 70 percent and fatal injuries by 65 percent, Mr Eveleigh said.
Although all bicycle helmets in Australia are required to meet an approved Standard, Helmet STAR is modelled on the ANCAP safety ratings used for motor vehicles and provides an easy-to-understand guide to helmet safety above the requirements of the Australian Standard.
The ratings from the previous two years of testing along with 53 new ratings are now live on the website along with test results, images, and videos.
The results show once again that you do not need to spend hundreds of dollars to get a quality helmet, with the Trek Tyro childrens helmet awarded a five-star safety rating, while for adults a Fluid Vector road helmet also received a five-star rating, Mr Eveleigh said.
Every helmet is independently tested at the NSW Crashlab in Western Sydney, where technicians assess how well helmets protect riders in a range of crash scenarios.
Testing includes stability assessments, vertical drop tests, strap-strength testing and moving-platform angular impact tests that examine a helmets ability to protect a riders head during a crash.
A one-star helmet meets Australias recognised safety standards, while a five-star helmet delivers protection well above those minimum requirements and is considered exceptional in crash protection.
The latest results include five-star ratings for:
- Trek Tyro - Childrens helmet
- Fluid Vector - Road helmet
- Trek Starvos WaveCel - General purpose helmet
- Lazer Lupo KinetiCore - Mountain bike helmet
- ONeal Transition - Full-face helmet
The Transport Accident Commissions Chief Executive Officer Tracey Slatter said they were pleased to partner with Transport to support access to potentially lifesaving information when it comes to choosing a bicycle helmet.
A helmet is the number one form of protection for people who ride bikes, so it is critical that riders have access to independent information that helps them choose a helmet that offers the highest levels of protection, Ms Slatter said.
The NSW Government is encouraging parents and riders to check helmet ratings before making their next purchase and to remember that a higher price tag does not always mean better protection.
To view the latest ratings visit helmetstar.com.au