Helmets and protective clothing

By the end of this topic you can

• You can choose a helmet that meets UK legal standards.
• You can check a visor or goggles before a ride.
• You can pick protective clothing suitable for training and testing.
• You can make yourself more visible by day and at night.

What you need to know and understand

• Riders and pillion passengers on motorcycles, scooters and mopeds must wear a protective helmet on all journeys. Sikhs wearing a turban are exempt (Highway Code rule 83).
• Helmets must meet BS 6658:1985 with the BSI Kitemark, UNECE Regulation 22.05 or 22.06, or an equivalent EEA standard with an equivalent mark.
• Visors and goggles must also meet a recognised standard (British Standard with Kitemark, UNECE 22.05 or 22.06, or an equivalent European standard).
• The helmet must be fastened securely, and the visor should be clean and in good condition before each journey.
• The SHARP scheme rates how much protection different helmets offer.
• For your tests you need a legal helmet, ankle-supporting boots, protective trousers, a protective jacket and motorcycle gloves.
• Reflective clothing or strips help you be seen in the dark (Highway Code rule 87).

Choosing and fitting a helmet

Check the label for one of the legal standards. A helmet should fit snugly without pressure points and should not roll forward or back when fastened. Buy from a shop where you can try it on, and replace a helmet after a crash or a hard drop, even if it looks fine, because the inner liner may be damaged.

A scratched or dirty visor scatters light from the sun and from headlights at night. Clean it before you ride and replace it when scratched. Tinted visors can make it much harder to see in poor light.

Head to toe: what to wear

• Jacket: textile or leather motorcycle jacket, ideally with armour at shoulders, elbows and back.
• Trousers: textile or leather motorcycle trousers. Heavy denim is the minimum accepted for tests.
• Gloves: proper motorcycle gloves protect your hands and help keep them warm enough to work the controls.
• Boots: motorcycle boots or sturdy footwear that protects and supports your ankles. Trainers are not suitable.
• Extras: ear protection on long rides, and waterproof and thermal layers in cold or wet weather.

Being seen

Highway Code rule 86 advises making yourself visible from the front, sides and rear in daylight. A light or brightly coloured helmet, fluorescent clothing or strips, and dipped headlights all help. At night, fluorescent colours do not work well; reflective materials do, because they bounce back headlight beams.

Even with bright kit, drivers can misjudge your speed or distance, especially at junctions. Ride as if you have not been seen.

Common mistakes

• Buying a helmet online without checking the fit or the standard label.
• Wearing trainers or thin jeans for short trips. Most injuries happen on ordinary local journeys.
• Riding at night in a dark tinted visor.
• Relying on fluorescent clothing after dark instead of reflective strips.

Test yourself: Helmets and protective clothing

Answer each question, then read the explanation. Questions come in a random order each time.