7.1 Helmets and Personal Protective Equipment

Helmets and Personal Protective Equipment

Motorcyclists are among the most vulnerable road users in Ireland. The Rules of the Road notes that motorcycles are fewer than 1 in 50 licensed vehicles, yet motorcycle users account for about 1 in 8 road deaths, and that in a crash motorcycle and moped users have less protection than drivers or passengers in vehicles. With no crumple zone, seatbelt or airbag, your helmet and protective clothing are the main barrier between you and the road.

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The Helmet Law in Ireland

The RSA states that it's the law that everyone on a motorcycle wears a properly fastened, approved crash helmet at all times. For the rules on the use of crash helmets, the RSA points to S.I. No. 360 of 1978.

• Rider and passenger: the rule covers everyone on the motorcycle, including a pillion passenger.
• Fastened, not just worn: the Rules of the Road says an unsecured helmet is illegal and useless in a crash, because it can come off before your head hits the road.
• Fixed-charge offences: using a motorcycle without wearing a crash helmet, and permitting a passenger to ride on a motorcycle without wearing one, are both fixed-charge offences.
• Rider responsibility: if you carry a passenger, the Rules of the Road says you must make certain they are wearing a properly fitted crash helmet.

+-------------------------------------------------------------------------+
|                      IRISH CRASH HELMET ESSENTIALS                      |
|                                                                         |
|   [ Approved helmet     ]  ---->  Meets recognised safety standards     |
|   [ Securely fastened   ]  ---->  An unsecured helmet is illegal        |
|   [ Rider AND passenger ]  ---->  Everyone on the motorcycle            |
+-------------------------------------------------------------------------+

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Recognised Helmet Standards

The RSA advises choosing a helmet that meets proper safety standards, and the Rules of the Road says to ensure all equipment meets EU standards. In Europe, motorcycle helmets are approved under UN ECE Regulation 22:

ECE 22.05

The long-established European helmet standard. An approved helmet carries a label with a circled "E" and a number showing the country that granted the approval; E24 is Ireland.

ECE 22.06

The newer version of the regulation. It adds tests such as rotational (oblique) impacts and impacts at more than one speed, and it tests approved accessories such as internal sun visors with the helmet, so it represents a higher level of testing than 22.05.

[!WARNING] A label from outside Europe on its own, such as a US "DOT" sticker, is not a European ECE approval, and novelty or decorative helmets give little protection. Choose a helmet with a genuine ECE approval label, buy from a reputable dealer, and never buy or use a second-hand helmet.

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Helmet Types and Protection Profiles

Why the chin bar matters

Helmet crash research consistently finds that the chin and face area is often struck in a crash. An open-face helmet leaves the jaw, teeth and facial bones exposed to impact and abrasion. The Rules of the Road adds that if you wear an open-face helmet, you must wear eye protection.

Modular helmets and P/J approval

ECE approval labels show how a modular helmet may be used:

• 'P' (Protective): approved as a full-face helmet only, with the chin bar closed and locked.
• 'J' (Jet): approved as an open-face helmet.
• 'P/J': approved for use both closed and open, usually with a lock that holds the chin bar in the raised position.

[!IMPORTANT] Ride with the chin bar raised only if the helmet's approval label shows P/J and the chin bar is locked open. A 'P'-only helmet is not approved for use with the chin bar raised.

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Visors and Eye Protection

At 100 km/h you travel about 28 metres every second, so an insect or piece of grit hitting an unprotected eye can instantly cause a loss of control.

The Rules of the Road's helmet advice includes:

• Use a helmet with a clear visor. If you use a dark visor, it will be almost impossible for you to see oil on a wet road.
• Replace the visor if it is scratched. Scratches scatter the light from oncoming headlights into glare.
• Clean your visor gently with warm soapy water. Solvents and abrasive cleaners can damage it.
• Wear eye protection with an open-face helmet.

Tinted visors are labelled by their makers for daytime use only. In darkness, at dusk, and in rain or fog, use a clear visor. A Pinlock-style anti-fog insert helps stop the inside of the visor misting up in cold, damp weather.

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Helmet Fit, Care and Replacement

The Rules of the Road tells you to buy from reputable dealers, try several different sizes and makes, and make sure the dealer knows how to assess fit.

The fitment checklist

1. Snug all round: firm, even contact around the crown, forehead and cheeks, with no gaps.
2. Skin movement test: with the strap undone, gently turn the helmet; your skin should move with the lining rather than the helmet sliding over your head.
3. No pressure points: wear it for a while in the shop; a red mark or headache means the shell shape does not suit your head.
4. Roll-off test: fasten the strap firmly, then try to roll the helmet forward off your head. If it comes off, the size or fit is wrong.

+-------------------------------------------------------------------------+
|                       HELMET FITMENT VERIFICATION                       |
|                                                                         |
|   1. Snug crown and cheeks  ---->  No gaps, firm contact all round      |
|   2. Skin movement test     ---->  Skin moves with the liner            |
|   3. Pressure check         ---->  No painful hot spots                 |
|   4. Roll-off test          ---->  Cannot be pulled forward off the head|
+-------------------------------------------------------------------------+

Care and replacement

The Rules of the Road's helmet rules are clear:

• Never buy or use second-hand helmets, and never lend your helmet to someone else.
• If your helmet is damaged, replace it. The foam liner absorbs an impact by crushing, and crushed foam does not recover, even if the shell looks fine after a drop or a crash.
• Read the manual for your helmet and follow the care instructions, including the manufacturer's advice on when to replace it.
• Do your research before you buy, and make sure all your equipment meets EU standards.

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Protective Clothing

The RSA recommends that motorcyclists, and pillion passengers, wear approved motorcycle personal protective equipment (PPE), including a jacket and trousers, protective gloves and motorcycle boots. The Rules of the Road says:

• Jackets and trousers should give you enough protection from impact, abrasion, cold and weather.
• Use body armour on exposed areas such as the back, knees, elbows, shoulders, hips and shins, adjusted so it fits snugly and does not move in a crash.
• Wear a good reflective jacket to make you more visible on the road.
• Wear protective gloves, and footwear that comes above the ankle at least.
• Use ear protection on long journeys, and do not use a personal entertainment system while riding.

Under Regulation (EU) 2016/425, motorcycle clothing sold as protective equipment must carry a CE mark showing that it meets the relevant European standard.

Garments: EN 17092

The European standard for motorcycle jackets, trousers and one-piece suits uses five classes:

Ordinary denim and fashion jackets are not designed to survive a slide along the road and can tear through very quickly.

Impact armour: EN 1621

• EN 1621-1 covers limb protectors for the shoulders, elbows, hips and knees.
• EN 1621-2 covers back protectors.
• Protectors are rated Level 1 or Level 2; a Level 2 protector must pass on less force in testing, so it offers more protection.

Boots: EN 13634

Motorcycle boots certified to EN 13634 are tested for boot height, impact abrasion resistance, impact cut resistance and transverse rigidity (resistance to crushing). The RSA adds that boots should be free of laces, so they cannot get caught in the chain. Trainers and casual shoes give almost no protection when a motorcycle falls on your foot.

Gloves: EN 13594

Motorcycle gloves are certified to EN 13594 at Level 1 or Level 2, and a KP marking shows knuckle protection. In a fall the hands usually hit the ground first, so look for palm sliders, knuckle protection and a wrist strap that stops the glove being pulled off.

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Summary of PPE Standards