The ANESDOR Protective Equipment Commission, which brings together the industry’s leading experts, has worked in recent months on the development of a series of proposals to improve road safety related to motorcyclist equipment that have been presented to the DGT.
The helmet continues to be the main element of protection for motorcyclists. According to studies by the World Health Organization, the use of helmets reduces the probability of suffering severe head trauma in the event of an accident by more than 50%.
ANESDOR advocates the use of a helmet that complies with the most recent approval
The use of helmets is already widespread among the motorcycling community, however, it is still common for them not to be used correctly, either by using the wrong size or by not fastening and adjusting them correctly. Not using the helmet, or not fastening it properly, already represents a serious infraction according to traffic regulations, but surveillance and control should be increased.
Regarding the level of protection, all helmets available on the market must comply with the approvals in force (UNECE R22.05 or the newly introduced UNECE R22.06) which guarantees that any helmet, regardless of its design, is created and tested to protect the entire cranial area in the event of an impact.
More important than the type of helmet (full face, jet or modular) is choosing a helmet that meets the most recent homologation, because it guarantees that it has passed the most demanding tests and safety standards. For example, a jet helmet with the latest UNECE R22.06 approval is safer than a full-face helmet with outdated approval.
For all these reasons, ANESDOR proposes a series of measures aligned in accordance with the updates in homologation, so that it is prohibited to circulate with helmets of UNECE R22.04 regulations or earlier, and the use of certified moped helmets (popularly known as “calimero”). In addition, active market surveillance and import control is necessary to prevent the sale of equipment outside of approval or certification, as well as counterfeits.
All this should be accompanied by greater investment in awareness campaigns about the importance of correct helmet use and renewal when your helmet becomes obsolete or damaged. Each type of helmet (full face, jet, modular…) has specific applications for which it has been designed, but it is the approval and the correct use and conservation that guarantee that it provides us with the maximum level of safety.
With the aim of raising awareness about the helmet creation processes, how this protective element has evolved in terms of the use of advanced materials and new technologies in terms of safety, and to raise awareness about its correct use, ANESDOR has carried out the production of a short documentary video.
Under the title “Motorcycle helmets: Everything you didn’t know”and with the intervention of different experts, this video has five chapters that highlight the importance of the use of this protective element: the history of the helmet, its design and manufacturing, the approval process, sales advice and the user opinions on the use of the helmet.
José María Riaño, general secretary of ANESDOR, commented: “The industry has invested many resources in recent years to improve the safety of all types of helmets, and this evolution and innovation has been reflected in UNECE R22.06, the most advanced approval that represents a true revolution in terms of safety. security requirements. Transferring these helmets to real use on the street would be an effective measure that would result in the road safety of motorcyclists.”
