Motorcycle Helmet Law
The basics of UK Motorcycle Helmet Law
In the UK (England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland). It's compulsory to wear a motorcycle helmet. The helmet has to be approved and pass safety regulations. Any helmet sold in a UK store also has to pass these regulations.
All helmets that pass ECE 22.05 (known as Regulation No. 22) are of a certain standard, so any helmet bought is safe.
A lot of motorcyclists think that the more expensive a helmet is, the safer it is. For some helmets this is true, but for the majority of helmet brands the cost is in the comfort and finish.
A motorcycle helmet is the only thing you have to wear when riding a bike, the helmet must be fitted correctly, be the correct size to fit your head and the strap must be done up.
There is no helmet age limit, most manufacturers recommend that the helmet be updated once every 3-5 years, but it's only a guide. Most riders will buy a new helmet every 5 years, but some will wear the same one for many years. After a while the materials inside a bike helmet deteriorate, this means that they won't offer the same protection during a crash as they would do when they were new.
Motorcycle Helmet Law - Visors
The visor on a motorcycle helmet must be clear and not tinted. You are allowed to wear sunglasses or use an internal sun visor that comes with some helmet brands, but mirror finish or darkened visors are illegal.
Motorcycle helmet visors must also be free from condensation and steam that may obstruct view. This can be solved by using a pin lock visor (acts like double glazing) or keeping the visor open slightly.
Flip Front Helmets
Flip front helmets are not designed to be worn while the front is flipped up. They are crash tested with the flip up section down.
Damaged Helmets
Helmets that have been dropped or damaged in a crash should not be used again. If you're unsure of whether your helmet is safe to use, either have it checked by your local bike shop or buy a new one, it's not worth the risk using it until it has been checked.
Open Face Helmets
These can be used on UK roads, there is no law against using an open face helmet as long as it has passed safety tests.
Helmet Fitting
Check your motorcycle helmet fitting, it's important that your helmet fits correctly so that it protects your head in a crash.
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