FIM Road Safety Award 2013
The United Kingdom Department for Transport
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The United Kingdom Department for Transport The Department is the winner of the 2013 FIM Road Safety award for its SHARP – Safety Helmet Assessment & Rating Programme – helmet safety work. Over three hundred motorcycle helmet models have been independently tested, and rated, using a simple star system. The internet site is now generating close to one million visits per year. Visitors are coming to the site from across the world, no longer just the UK. The testing programme was developed by the Department following the recommendations of collaborative international research that looked in detail at motorcycle accidents.
The FIM expresses its thanks to the independent judges for this award: Dr Rohit Baluja – President, Indian Institute for Road Traffic Education Dr Luciano Iorio – Chair, United Nations ECE Working Party for Road Safety (WP1) Antonio Avenoso – Executive Director, European Transport Safety Council Tim Buche – President, Motorcycle Safety Foundation USA
The programme provides motorcyclists with two strands of information to help them choose a helmet. The first is to inform riders of the importance of a correctly fitting helmet. Information on the web shows a rider how to select a helmet that fits correctly. The second is to provide objective advice concerning the level of protection that a particular helmet may provide in an impact by using an easy to understand “star rating” system; adopted because of its success in the safety rating of cars. Objective testing proves that consumers need not spend a lot of money in order to buy good levels of safety. It has also encouraged some brands to introduce design changes that are reflected in better SHARP ratings than were achieved by earlier designs. Helmet standards are vital – all helmets must meet minimum safety standards but this programme subjects helmets to more demanding impacts than regulations require to highlight the better performing helmets in the market place. This helps riders to make an informed choice when they buy a new helmet.
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Impact testing the front of a helmet against a flat anvil.
Impact testing the rear of a helmet against a flat anvil.
Impact testing the side of a helmet against a flat anvil.
Impact testing the front of a helmet against a flat anvil.
Impact testing the front of a helmet against a kerb-shaped anvil.
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