Thu Sep 19 06:00:00 UTC 2024: ## New Helmet Safety Rating System Aims to Help Cyclists Choose the Right Protection
**London, UK** – Researchers at Imperial College London, funded by the Road Safety Trust and Innovate UK, have developed a new safety rating system for cycling helmets called ‘Hiper’ (helmet impact protection effectiveness rating). This system aims to provide consumers with objective data to help them choose the best helmet based on its impact protection capabilities.
Hiper uses a scale of 0 to 5, with 5 representing the highest level of protection. The researchers tested 30 of the most popular adult helmets on the market, revealing a surprising finding: price doesn’t necessarily equate to better protection. In fact, the highest-performing helmet in the study was a relatively inexpensive model retailing for around £50.
This research focuses on head rotation, a key factor in brain injuries and loss of consciousness. While existing safety standards like EN1078 address impact energy and retention system strength, Hiper specifically analyzes the helmet’s ability to mitigate head rotation, a feature promoted by in-helmet protection systems like MIPS.
Dr. Claire Baker, the lead author on the study, stated, “Our new ratings give consumers objective, evidence-based data to support their buying decisions.” Dr. Mazdak Ghajari, senior author, added, “This research can help consumers make informed choices when purchasing helmets, ultimately leading to improved helmet designs and better protection against head and brain injuries.”
The study highlights the Specialized Align MIPS (£45) as the best-performing road helmet, while the Specialized Tactic MIPS mountain bike helmet scored 4.84/5. The Lazer Compact road helmet received the lowest score, at 1.34/5.
Despite the promising nature of Hiper, the research team acknowledges that the study’s sample size is relatively small. Further research is planned to test children’s helmets and a wider range of adult models.
**Key Takeaways:**
* Hiper provides a new, objective way to evaluate cycling helmet safety.
* Higher price doesn’t always mean better impact protection.
* Head rotation, a crucial factor in brain injuries, is considered in the Hiper rating system.
* The Specialized Align MIPS emerged as the top-performing road helmet in the study.
The researchers are optimistic that Hiper will become a valuable resource for cyclists, enabling them to make more informed choices about helmet safety. The full results of the study are available on the Hiper Helmets website.
First Piper 