Wearing a helmet whilst driving
Discussion
xPOW said:
I don't wear a helmet in my Caterham which only has an aerofoil windscreen but I always wear shatterproof goggles and a strong rimmed cap on to protect forehead. When I looked into helmets, the vendor told me that the racing helmets (like the Simpson ones Stig wears) are illegal for road use (bikes or cars) because the aperture of visibility is too small and restrictive - ie turning your neck, blindspots etc. He said there was no legislation restricting normal road-legal bike helmets in cars such as Caterhams, and therefore for any other car I'd assume.
But the vendor did also point out that is really comes down to individual police interpretation of the laws of the road. One officer could argue any helmet is too restrictive regarding visibility (therefore illegal), where another will allow it. Some may even overlook the racing Stig-type helmets in Caterhams, Radicals. I guess it comes down to why the officer is standing by you at the time
In the end, I decided not to get one for road use and looking back, I am very glad. I prefer the open feeling and visibility - but you do therefore accept odd smack in your face! (not just from Mrs xPOW)
The wearing of Simpson helmets on the road whilst riding a motorcycle IS legal but it is illegal for anyone to SELL one for road use. But the vendor did also point out that is really comes down to individual police interpretation of the laws of the road. One officer could argue any helmet is too restrictive regarding visibility (therefore illegal), where another will allow it. Some may even overlook the racing Stig-type helmets in Caterhams, Radicals. I guess it comes down to why the officer is standing by you at the time
In the end, I decided not to get one for road use and looking back, I am very glad. I prefer the open feeling and visibility - but you do therefore accept odd smack in your face! (not just from Mrs xPOW)
Splitting hairs I know but this loophole was created to allow visiting riders from abroad to wear non UK approved helmets.
Tango13 said:
The wearing of Simpson helmets on the road whilst riding a motorcycle IS legal but it is illegal for anyone to SELL one for road use.
Splitting hairs I know but this loophole was created to allow visiting riders from abroad to wear non UK approved helmets.
are you sure? all Simpson Helmets have stickers saying 'Not UK Road Legal' (that may refer to selling as opposed to wearing, but these links don't seem to back that up). I'm no expert though and only going on what I was told when looking myself:Splitting hairs I know but this loophole was created to allow visiting riders from abroad to wear non UK approved helmets.
http://www.helmetsuperstore.co.uk/Simpson-Street-B...
http://www.gorgeousbikes.co.uk/simpson_helmets.htm...
Given the Stig has driven on the road wearing his helmet for a couple of different Top Gear features (most notably the run from Caterham to Knockhill in a Caterham) that would suggest that the Simpson helmets (whilst not UK type approved as far as the legislation goes) are unlikely to get you in serious trouble.
The main point is that helmets have to have the kitemark indicating they are EU and UK approved in order for them to count as 'legal' for the purposes of the motorcycle laws. There are no specific laws around wearing a helmet in car, so for all intents and purposes it does not matter if they are 'road-legal' or not. What matters is whether a police officer is likely to try and stick you with careless driving for restricting your vision or not, and I would think providing there was nothing else to pull you for (i.e. you were driving within the law) it would be extremely unlikely for them to pull you just because of the helmet.
The main point is that helmets have to have the kitemark indicating they are EU and UK approved in order for them to count as 'legal' for the purposes of the motorcycle laws. There are no specific laws around wearing a helmet in car, so for all intents and purposes it does not matter if they are 'road-legal' or not. What matters is whether a police officer is likely to try and stick you with careless driving for restricting your vision or not, and I would think providing there was nothing else to pull you for (i.e. you were driving within the law) it would be extremely unlikely for them to pull you just because of the helmet.
xPOW said:
Tango13 said:
The wearing of Simpson helmets on the road whilst riding a motorcycle IS legal but it is illegal for anyone to SELL one for road use.
Splitting hairs I know but this loophole was created to allow visiting riders from abroad to wear non UK approved helmets.
are you sure? all Simpson Helmets have stickers saying 'Not UK Road Legal' (that may refer to selling as opposed to wearing, but these links don't seem to back that up). I'm no expert though and only going on what I was told when looking myself:Splitting hairs I know but this loophole was created to allow visiting riders from abroad to wear non UK approved helmets.
http://www.helmetsuperstore.co.uk/Simpson-Street-B...
http://www.gorgeousbikes.co.uk/simpson_helmets.htm...
The second link is laughably wrong!
The law states that any crash helmet sold in the UK for road use must conform to British standards. The law also states that any helmet worn on the road must conform to British standards OR SIMILAR for the reason in my original post.
This means a Simpson IS legal as it conforms to the American SNELL standards.
Top Gear moved away from showing fast UK road driving (probably because BRAKE and others f
king got on at the BBC!) but do not shy away from showing Stig, in helmet, on public roads. My instinct is to suggest it's not illegal.
Even if, in some arcane, bizzare law, it is illegal, I doubt only the most harcore jobsworth trafpol would pull you for it. However, if you were caught doing something naughty, IE. driving above the speed limit, cornering in a fashion that could be considered "reckless" or "dangerous" wearing a helmet would probably stand you in bad stead, even if it was only to stop your fast being shot-blasted. They would immediately see it as a sign that you were pushing it, and preparing for the worst. Silly but thats probably how it would happen.
king got on at the BBC!) but do not shy away from showing Stig, in helmet, on public roads. My instinct is to suggest it's not illegal.Even if, in some arcane, bizzare law, it is illegal, I doubt only the most harcore jobsworth trafpol would pull you for it. However, if you were caught doing something naughty, IE. driving above the speed limit, cornering in a fashion that could be considered "reckless" or "dangerous" wearing a helmet would probably stand you in bad stead, even if it was only to stop your fast being shot-blasted. They would immediately see it as a sign that you were pushing it, and preparing for the worst. Silly but thats probably how it would happen.
Friend of mine only has 1 eye, he's been driving for years.Mastodon2 said:
Top Gear moved away from showing fast UK road driving (probably because BRAKE and others fking got on at the BBC!)
ermm did I not see a jag leaving tyre marks on a roundabout after some fast driving by clarkson.king got on at the BBC!) I think the helmet issue is due to not having full visablity in a car, i.e tunnel vision..
I drive a no-windscreen, Fisher Fury spyder. Yes, big insects really frigging smart much above 50mph; I use some ballistic-rated polycarbonate shooting 'glasses.
I quite fancy a 50's -Stirling-Moss/Hailwood style open-face 'helmet' to deal with greenfly, but that's about all they're good for.... Full helmet? No; half the joy of a really open low car is the feeling of ..walking through a garden really fast
I quite fancy a 50's -Stirling-Moss/Hailwood style open-face 'helmet' to deal with greenfly, but that's about all they're good for.... Full helmet? No; half the joy of a really open low car is the feeling of ..walking through a garden really fast
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff