Why do I need a motorcycle helmet? FAQs
Understand the importance of wearing a helmet and how it protects you in the event of a crash.
When did the new UNECE 22.06 helmets become the legal standard in the UK?
UN Regulation No. 22.06 officially entered into force in Jan 2021, but its implementation across the industry followed a phased transition.
The standard became the mandatory requirement for all new helmet type approvals (verification that the helmets comply with design standards) in Europe from July 2022. From this point, manufacturers could no longer submit new helmet designs for type approval against the older 22.05 standard.
The production of helmets meeting only the older UNECE 22.05 standard was required to stop from July 2023.
Helmet distributors and retailers were generally expected to stop selling new UNECE 22.05 helmets from Jan 2024, making UNECE 22.06 the sole standard for new sales. However, the UK didn’t enforce this but allows retailers to continue to sell UNECE 22.05 approved helmets so these helmets will gradually decline from the market and be replaced by the UNECE 22.06 versions.
In the UK, what regulations apply to helmets?
All helmets sold in the UK must comply with at least 1 of these:
- British Standard BS 6658:1985 and carry the BSI (British Standards Institution) Kitemark
- UN ECE Regulation 22.05 or 22.06
- Any standard accepted by a member of the European Economic Area which offers a level of safety and protection equivalent to BS 6658:1985 and carry a mark equivalent to the BSI Kitemark
This will most likely be indicated by a sticker on the back of the helmet. There are no rules about the style or age of a helmet. Buying a helmet labelled with ECE 22.05/22.06 or BS6658 ensures that you have a helmet that will provide a minimum level of protection to your head in a crash. SHARP provides an independent assessment of how much a helmet exceeds these minimum levels of protection – to enable riders to make an informed choice when buying a new helmet.
Note: The British Standard remains in place in UK legislation. In practice however, the majority of helmets comply with UNECE 22.05 or UNECE 22.06. The absence of a BSI Kitemark should not be taken as an indicator of inferior safety or non-legal compliance.
In the UK, what are the rules about wearing a motorcycle helmet?
In the UK, anyone riding a motorbike, or a powered two-wheeler like a moped or scooter must wear a helmet.
