sla453

Hi All,

Anybody know if I can use my british approved motorcyle helmet in Australia?

Thanks..

Centurion

Nobody is going to stop you using it. I've been using mine.

sla453

But if it's the same red tape as UK child car seats + accident = no insurance..?? Just wondered.

Red_V_Roger

I think legally it needs to have an Oz safety stamp...like approval the that it has to have in the UK/Europe. I'm sure that this has been posted on here before.

Would you get done if you got stopped....who knows.

Only thing that I could see is that you had an accident and were not wearing an approved lid, could the insurance company find out and limit the claim?

I know lids are expensive, but may be not worth the risk of getting done or effecting insurance.

asher

If you write to the manufacturer they may send you the relevant sticker

DadAgain

Unless your helmet has an Austalian safety standards sticker on the back then it is illegal...

Being illegal doesnt make it unsafe of course - but in the event of a crash it means your insurance company will wash their hands of you...

Its simply not worth it - get a new one locally.

datamile

The stats don't make good reading here

MOTORCYCLISTS are 23 times more likely to die in road accidents than car drivers, and 41 more times more likely than car occupants to be seriously injured. Bikes only four per cent of registered vehicles but 21 per cent of the road toll.

Gobbledegeek

As previously stated, it's illegal. However, I would bet a BS helmet is at very least, comparable to the Aus Standard AS1698 and I have yet to hear a story of a copper picking up on those who choose to wear overseas lids. If it doesn't have a sticker on the outside or a sewn in label on the inside (I believe all manufacturers put the sticker on the outside anyway), then it is deemed illegal.

A traffic cop in a patrol car would probably not notice an absent sticker but apparently, bike cops make a point of checking.

The obvious issue arises when your insurance company inspect your gear following an accident.

If you can afford to dispense with 30 helmets of the identical make and model to yours, Aus Standards will perform their usual list of destructive tests in order to issue a AS sticker.

It's all a bit bloody stupid really as I'm betting UK standards exceed most other countries and you could have two identical helmets, bought direct from the manufacturer, from the same batch and the one that ends up in UK will not be valid if taken to Aus! Unfortunately, bureaucracy beats common sense.

Incidentally, the visor should also have it's own relevant AS sticker.

I was considering purchasing one with a 'Welsh Flag' design but after a little research, I decided that it wasn't worth the hassle. I can image the annoyance if you already have a favourite lid that you can't use.

edie209

Gutted :curse: I have a brand new HJC lid

Thanks though for the advice

chris1386

And do you have the stats for 'at fault' in these accidents? I know it doesnt help the deceased or their loved ones but I bet most werent the bikers fault.Just thought i'd jump in before the thread turned into a 'lunatic speed freak drag race child murdering motorcyclist drug crazed psycho' thread.I'll get down now, cheers!

Dorothy

Funny enough, I asked this question today when at the cycle shop. The guy who's going to be giving me my lessons said I can certainly wear my Canadian one, but it's illegal here. If i get stopped I'll likely be given a ticket for not wearing an approved helmet, which is the same penalty as not wearing one at all.

themerlin

I was pulled over and they actually checked the helmet for the Aus sticker. If it doesn't have one then it's treated like you have no helmet on at all ie fine and points.

jasonlec

:curse: Dont see how that is relevent to the question, nice to see that motorcycle doom-mungers are alive and well in australia,not!
More bikes on the road=less congestion,polution etc.
As for more likely to come off worse in an accident, I bet if a car ran into a pedestrian the car would come off best.
Rant over, Le Mans G.p. on tomorrow gmt 12.30

themerlin

There are loads of idiots on bikes you push the death stats up.

jellibaby

I have two AGV Ti-tech Rossi rep helmets and have no intention of running to the local bike shop and replacing them with the same helmet with an Aussie sticker on it. As for the insurance company, I would deal with that in the event of a claim, there are other threads on here where riders have made a claim with a european or UK helmet and after a letter from the maker stating the standards of manufacture they have been reimbursed. The helmets are not manufactured differently for each country, simply put through different tests, the UK testing being the most stringent. UK helmets are allowed on the race tracks (Eastern Creek and Philip Island) as I've already made enquries and given that most racers from countries oversees ship their own equipment with them for the track it would be lunacy to ask each racer to only wear a helmet or other clothing manufactured in Australia ~ they simply would stop bringing the circus to town given the costs of equipment. Don't fall foul of the nanny state - there is enough of that in the UK. My helmet will save my head in the event of a crash ~ I trust the testing it has gone through and no cop biker or otherwise is going to make me change it for a "sticker". I'll see them in court first.