Helmet rating is done in a UK government database called, SHARP (Safety Helmet Assessment and Rating Programme). It is meant to reduce the number of head injuries from motorcycle crashes.
Helmets selected by SHARP are purchased from the public, and therefore exactly the same as those which would be used by a motorcyclist in the UK. Each model is tested using 32 tests, aimed at measuring the impact protection they offer the brain. The five-star ratings are stated to mean that a model provides “good levels of protection” right around the helmet.
The Transport Research Laboratory (TRL) delivered a detailed response addressing the Nigel Mills paper in November 2009. Their response acknowledges that although their five-star rating may be the same, the protection of the helmet is significantly lower than the one-star rating. The UK’s Consumer Protection, Traffic Safety, and Product Regulation Directorate also acknowledge that the average SHARP helmet offers only 70% protection. Therefore, we recommend that all riders consider the protection offered by other products before choosing a motorcycle helmet.
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All about the SHARP Crash Helmet Safety Scheme
What do you know about the SHARP Crash Helmet Safety Scheme? You’ll learn all about the scheme, how they tested helmets and why the results are so important.
While it’s true that the UK has different standards for helmet safety than most countries around the world, we think the SHARP test is a good place to start when making a helmet purchase decision.
You can’t judge a helmet by the price alone. We needed to test the helmets to see how well they will resist the smearing of your memories along Route 1.
All crash helmets must be tested for safety by DOT and be subjected to random batch testing to verify they meet safety standards.
It’s also worth noting that helmets imported into the US can differ from the versions on sale in Europe and elsewhere. Meaning that a SHARP score might not be relevant to a US helmet. How do I fix this? Do I need to just use “Whether” instead of “Whether”, or use the bolded version?
But Sharp invented a clever scheme to test the impact resistance, shock absorption levels, and frictional and rotational properties of helmets for motorcyclists in order to allow us to make an informed choice.
The goal of this project was to supplement the European ECE test with safety testing based on recommendations made by – undoubtedly the most influential and comprehensive look at the role played by motorcycle crash helmets on injury and fatalities – the COST 327 Study.
This research looked at real accident injuries that had been admitted to 3 hospitals, including one in Glasgow. They analyzed the information, then recreated the accidents in the laboratory, and found that the best way to survive a motorcycle accident was to stay upright.
In an attempt to provide the most relevant and up-to-date safety information on the market, SHARP has evaluated crash helmets and developed a series of tests to evaluate the effectiveness of motorbike crash helmets.
So what do they do?
They test all the helmets that they buy themselves. This eliminates any interference by a manufacturer. They buy the same size of helmet (men’s M or women’s L) to make sure the results reflect a range of sizes. They run 32 impact and oblique impact tests on them.
How hard a helmet could withstand a crash depends on how fast it is traveling when it hits. It’s tested by hitting it with a blunt object on three different speeds to see how the helmet would cope. They also test it against a flat and angled surface to see how it performs when struck on real-life roads, streets, and highways.
They also perform the ‘oblique tests’ to test how much friction a tire can withstand when a rider is leaning at an angle to test how much rotational force they can absorb while riding. These tests help ensure that your bike can handle any situation.
They look at a number of criteria, including the price of the item, how easy it is to purchase, how likely it is to ship to you, and so on, to arrive at a SHARP score out of 5 stars, with 5 being the best. It’s a fairly straightforward process.
There are always going to be proponents and opponents (and every opponent in between) for any testing regime, but considering the number of manufacturers, the variety of technologies, and the range of weird and wonderful impacts we bikers dream up to subject crash helmets to, the SHARP test seems to be one of the best attempts towards a serious and comprehensive real-world helmet safety test.
At the very least, the impact resistance chart can help you make better choices in choosing a new helmet. It’s better than nothing, and if you need a new helmet, you may as well consider all that stuff about helmet brands.
Here’s what you need to know about helmets. We check each helmet for ECE and DOT/SNELL certification and give it a star rating based on its level of protection. And the SHARP test gives us an easy way to compare helmets for their safety.
SHARP 5 Star Helmet Reviews
Sharp 5 star rated motorcycle crash helmets are rated as some of the safest helmets around in Europe. Crash helmets that score 5 stars, are independently lab tested ECE helmets as tested by the UK SHARP crash helmet safety scheme, meaning they should have the best chance of protecting you in an accident.
In terms of the safety ratings it’s like Snell, but only in Europe. The following are the best rated ECE Certified helmets based on their performance and safety ratings. The best rated is the TKL GX-S.
SHARP Releases 27 More Helmet Scores
27 new safety ratings for motorcycle helmets were released today by Road Safety Minister Mike Penning. He also unveiled a new website to give motorcyclists the best advice and information on choosing a helmet.
A total of 27 additional motorcycle helmets were rated by the Department for Transport’s Safety Helmet Assessment and Rating Programme (SHARP) taking the total number of ratings published past the 200 mark.
All these ratings are today published on the new SHARP website which has been overhauled to include more information for motorcyclists on how to find the right helmet for them. The site also includes demonstrations of how the SHARP tests are carried out and how to make sure a helmet fits properly.
This is good news, as the number of deaths and serious head injuries among motorcyclists is still rising despite improved motorcycle helmets. It is estimated that a saving of 50 lives a year could be made by all riders wearing the safest helmet available.
The government is pleased to be launching the new and improved Safety Helmet Awards scheme this week. They are designed to ensure all motorcycle helmets available on the market meet minimum legal safety standards, but we want to make sure that they also provide you with more information about how much protection a helmet can provide in a crash.
You will find the best safety advice available with the helmet scheme, including an analysis of how many injuries are prevented every year through wearing a helmet, and which helmets work best in different situations. The SHARP test ratings tell you the safety performance of different helmets and show that even some cheap ones can provide excellent protection.
This is a very important website for all riders as with helmets across a wide price range, scoring highly for all, riders should be able to find a helmet that fits them, and one they are happy to pay for. We’ve been working with the motorcycle industry for years, so we’re very pleased to finally be able to put this together for riders. As motorcyclists keep giving us feedback, we’ll make sure it’s the most useful and easy site possible for riders and the motorcycle industry.
The SHARP (Simple Heating And Refrigeration Program) has been available since 2007. You can learn more about the program on the SHARP website.
SHARP Helmet Ratings
You will find the list of the first 56 helmets rated by SHARP on its website. It does not include all helmets rated by SHARP.
The helmet is not as light as the original helmet which was produced by Shimmer. However, the added weight makes this helmet more durable and the quality of the material used to make this helmet has been improved.
Helmets ranked in order of date of the SHARP safety test. Helmets marked 5 out of 5 stars were tested using the SHARP safety test.
