Helmet Laws In Australia

[Adrian]

For all you Aussies out there I've just become aware of the "new" helmet laws since 2006. There appears to be a lot of confusion on the part of the police - let alone us simple bikers. Australian Road Rider magazine has an article on its website homepage at the moment and in 2 Wheels current magazine (09/11) there's an indepth look at what is happening. I've just discovered that my two helmets and the helmet of my friend and sometimes riding partner are now illegal and must be thrown away. Here is the basic Legal Standard although this apparently isn't necessarily going to stop you getting a ticket in some states.

The Australian Standard for motorcycle helmets is AS/NZS 1698.
This requires a certification mark, which is a statement of "compliance" or "conformance" with the Standard. Normally, these appear as a sticker on the outside, but also have a sewn-in label inside.
http://www.mcnetwork.com.au/faq.php?selected=helmets

The old 5 Ticks certification label no longer applies and hasn't for a few years. Read these two articles and see just how confusing it really is at the moment. This is a pik of 4 of the current approval bodies in Oz - one of these labels - theoretically - should appear on any helmet for sale.

[montmil]

On a certain street I know just east of downtown Dallas, you can purchase, for cash, any type of government form, sticker, decal, label, permit... whatever.

Be patient. Shop around for that "new" helmet.

Monte

[Adrian]

Hi Monte - the only problem with buying a non approved helmet is - what happens if i have an accident. The helemt will probably be up to the job of protecting my head if I buy from a reputable manufacturer such as Shoie or Arai. What happens when the police exam my riding gear (as they do here in Oz) and find it's not on the list of approved helmets? I'll be found to be not wearing the correct riding gear - illegal - whether I'm at fault or not the insurance company involved won't pay compensation to either me or the other party. The possible ramifications to the rider here in Oz are unpleasant both legally and financially.

[Dizerens5]

In UK any new helmet must have the British Standards mark or the European Union E mark. An older helmet is ok as long as it was legal when it was made. But they wear out anyway.  It's many years since I saw anyone wearing a pudding basin!

[Adrian]

In UK any new helmet must have the British Standards mark  

Here in Oz in in at least one state the law was made retrospective so in one day ALL legal helmets up to that point were made illegal by the passing of the law. The current proposal is for all states to make the same law and also make it retrospective. This is the confusion at the moment because there is a national standard for helmets set down in legal documentation called The Australian Road Rules.
Just because I'm paranoid doesn't mean that they're not out to get me!!!!!!!!

[Justin B.]

That's about the biggest crock I've heard in a while!  I thought pols over here were stupid but I guess this bunch must be bored AND stupid - very dangerous combination...