MOTOR-CYCLISTS’ HELMETS

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27500, 6 November 1954, Page 4

MOTOR-CYCLISTS’ HELMETS

NO STANDARD SET BY CONFERENCE

BRITISH SPECIFICATION DISCUSSED

"The. Press" Special Service WELLINGTON, November B.

A conference called by the Standards Institute failed to agree on a standard specification for motorcyclists' crash helmets. The conference agreed that the British Standards Institution’s test load of 301 b for the helmets was too low and decided to ask the institution why It decided on this specification, and to comment on a suggestion, that the test load be increased to 501 b.

, The conference was called in an effort to obtain agreement on a suitable specification to be adopted before the regulation requiring all motorcyclists to wear safety helmets when travelling at qiore than 30 miles an hour, comes into force next year. Represented at the conference were the Standards Institute, the AutoCycle Union, the Transport Department, the Department of Industries and Commerce, the National Safety Association, the Dominion Physical Laboratory, the Motorcycle Wholesalers’ Association, the United Kingdom Manufacturers' and New Zealand Representatives’ Association, and the New Zealand manufacturer of the helmets.

Mr T. R. McCleary, the Auto-Cycle Union’s representative, said that tests carried out recently hy. the Dominion Physical Laboratory on a dozen helmets showed results which the union did not consider satisfactory. The British standard soeciflcation for the helmets provides that under a load of 301 b he helmet should not •break or the side and end deformation exceeded H inches. The tests for crash helmets used by racing motorcyclists provide for loads of up to 1801 b. The conference agreed that a small committee should consider the conflicting viewpoints and report back to a conference which will be held probably some time before Christmas.