TRL has been appointed by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) to deliver a motorcycle helmet testing programme that will support the UK’s market surveillance activities and help ensure helmets sold to the public continue to meet the required safety standards.
Motorcycle helmets sold in the UK are required to display Type Approval markings, giving riders confidence that they comply with the relevant safety regulations. Through this programme, TRL will work with DVSA to independently assess whether helmets available on the UK market continue to meet these requirements through impact testing.
The contract will see TRL undertake impact absorption testing in line with applicable UNECE (United Nations Economic Commission for Europe) Regulations, providing independent technical evidence to support DVSA’s market surveillance activities. The programme will assess a wide range of helmet models across multiple shell sizes, with testing carried out under the same rigorous conditions used for international type approval.
TRL has extensive experience supporting the research, development, validation and homologation testing of motorcycle, motorsport and cycle helmets. Its state-of-the-art helmet drop test facility is one of the most advanced of its kind in the UK, featuring a precision-controlled twin-wire drop rig capable of delivering a wide range of impact energies and velocities. Combined with high-speed data acquisition systems, calibrated
instrumentation and specialist analysis software, the facility enables highly accurate and repeatable testing across multiple impact scenarios, measuring critical safety performance indicators such as peak linear and rotational accelerations and impact energy.
Ross Clark-Raee, Safety Testing Lead, at TRL, said:
“Motorcycle helmets are the most important piece of safety equipment a rider can wear, so maintaining confidence that products on the market continue to meet the required standards is vital. We are delighted to support DVSA through this important programme, applying our expertise in independent helmet testing to help uphold safety standards and protect riders across the UK. This work complements the SHARP helmet safety rating programme that TRL delivers on behalf of the Department for Transport, further demonstrating our commitment to improving helmet safety through investing in independent testing, technical excellence and evidence-based research.”
TRL’s helmet testing capabilities support organisations throughout the product lifecycle, from research and development and regulatory compliance to market surveillance, product validation and safety rating programmes. Working with manufacturers, regulators and governments, TRL helps improve the safety of motorcycle, cycle, motorsport, defence and other specialist protective helmets through independent testing and technical expertise.
(Picture: TRL)
