Helmet standards
Setting regulations for helmets to reduce serious head injuries following collisions
Protecting vulnerable users
70%
reduction in risk of serious injuries when a motorcyclist is wearing a helmet
Our world is changing, and with it, so is traffic. The modern global trend requires people to travel longer distance and more frequently for work, family, and leisure. As the number of vehicles on the road increases (passenger cars, trucks, motorcycles, scooters, public transport vehicles, and others), we are witnessing a rise in collisions among these road users. There is still much room for improvement, with approximately 1.2 million fatalities occurring annually around the world.
In major cities across the globe, powered two-wheeler vehicles (motorbikes and moped scooters) are becoming an increasingly important mode of transport. Their adaptability to city driving, lower operational costs compared to cars, and ability to navigate through traffic jams make them a popular choice.
However, users of these vehicles are particularly vulnerable, as they lack the protective structures and safety elements that car drivers have. The most essential part of a two-wheeler rider's protection is a helmet. Statistics show that a high-quality, properly fitted helmet reduces the risk of fatal injury by almost 40 % for motorcyclists, and in the case of severe injuries, by more than 70%. It's estimated that about 37% of cyclists killed could have survived if they had been wearing a helmet correctly.
Europe's ECE22-06 regulation
For decades, the ECE22 safety standard has set the minimum safety requirements for motorcycle helmets used on public roads in Europe. The latest version of this regulation, ECE22-06, has now replaced the previous standard, ECE22-05. As of 2024, all helmets must comply with this new homologation.
ECE22-06 is notably more rigorous, requiring helmets to provide enhanced safety for users. To meet the new standard, helmets must undergo a wider range of certification tests, including variations in impact velocity and direction.
The key features of the ECE22-06 include:
Introduction of a new head form impactor
High and low energy linear impact
Modular helmets and new procedure
Testing extra points
Rotational acceleration tests, new procedure
Visors: Adapting minimum light transmittance values (EN1938)
Mechanical tests for visors, high-speed particles test
Accessories integrated to the helmets
Photochromic visors
New procedure for production qualification tests
Sun shield, characteristics and marking
CASE STUDY
National helmet wearing coalition, Kenya
The rapid growth of motorcycle taxis has transformed mobility for rural and urban populations, significantly improving access to essential services. By September 2023, the number of registered motorcycle taxis in the country had reached 2.3 million.
However, this progress has come with a cost. In Kenya, head injuries account for 80% of motorbike crash fatalities, yet only 30-40% of drivers consistently wear helmets. The figures for passengers are even more alarming, with a mere 4-7% using helmets.
$771.40 USD
The average total healthcare cost incurred for a patient with a head injury
Since June 2021, a coalition of up to 20 organisations has been working to improve helmet standards and raise public awareness about the associated risks. Their efforts include:
helmet testing
The coalition has advocated for the establishment of a helmet testing lab in Kenya, as part of the National Road Safety Action Plan. In collaboration with the Kenya Bureau of Standards, they are now securing funding for this initiative.
TRAINING and education
They have been training trainers and enforcement officials on helmet safety, first aid, and gender-based violence. An information campaign was launched to debunk myths surrounding helmet use, and 100 ambassadors were trained on the topic. 754 boda riders have received helmet awareness training and 3 short awareness raising films were made, reaching an estimated 23,000 riders.
Partnering with SACCOs
By collaborating with financial cooperatives, they are promoting the use of quality helmets and providing flexible payment plans and subsidies where possible.