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Kiwi motorcyclists will soon be able to check the performance of protective clothing before they buy, says the Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC).
Joined by a range of Australian state road and road safety agencies, the ACC said it is developing a safety star rating system that will help Kiwis when purchasing motorcycle safety gear. It will be based on the familiar consumer five-star rating system.
The idea is that it will provide Kiwis with impartial test results to help them make an informed choice on every gear purchase. It will also offer info on fit and comfort in heat and cold, aiming to combat the tendency of some riders to take risks in warmer weather by wearing less gear because of discomfort.
“Safety star ratings play an important role in guiding people when they buy a car or a motorcycle helmet,” ACC motorcycle injury prevention head Dave Keilty said. “So, it makes sense to have something similar to help motorcyclists choose the right protective clothing for their needs.
“As riders know, they have little protection in the event of a crash, which is why we push so hard about the critical importance of always wearing protective gear, with messages like ‘no skin under the chin,’” he added.
Keilty said, in some situations, the quality of gear could be the difference between life and death. Thus, the better the quality of a rider’s helmet and protective clothing, the better the chance of avoiding injuries that can have life-long impacts, he explained.
Last year, the ACC paid out $94 million supporting 7,370 motorcyclists who had been injured on New Zealand roads – many of whom suffered significant, life-changing injuries.
ACC said the rating system will initially be based on the results of 12 months of testing at Deakin University in Victoria, involving the blind testing of protective clothing purchased randomly from retail outlets. The on-going test will then continue to assess as much gear as possible
“It will be up to manufacturers or importers to decide whether to display ratings on their gear, but consumers will be able to access all the test results online very soon,” Keilty added.
