Bto sport in the US of America have shoei helmets for about $390. Same helmet here is $700+. It's super comfy and an absolutely top shelf lid.
No ADR Compliance for Helmets brought in from OS, means no TAC Cover !!!!
Rubbish. Even if you're not wearing a helmet(or pants Peter) you are still covered by TAC.
Australian Road Rules
The Australian Road Rules (ARRs) are a basically a consistent set of rules which apply right across Australia and make it easier all round for road users. The ARRs were developed by the National Road Transport Commission, State and Territory transport agencies, police, other organisations and approved by a majority vote of State Transport Ministers. (link)
The latest version of the Australian Road Rules incorporates the amendments approved by the Australian Transport Council up to and including January 2008. The Australian Road Rules are model Rules only and have no legal effect however they form the basis of Road Rules of each Australian state and territory. (link) In these rules an “approved motor bike helmet means a protective helmet for motor bike riders that is approved, for the Australian Road Rules, under another law of this jurisdiction”. (link)
In short, the ARR do not require a helmet to be certified nor marked with a particular company’s certification trade mark.
Victorian (VIC) Road Rules
Unfortunately the Victorian Rider handbook (link) is not representative of the marketplace in that:
· page 18 indicates, “By law, every rider and passenger, including pillion and sidecar passengers, must wear a helmet approved by Australian Standards”. “Your helmet must carry the AS1698 or AS/NZS 1698 mark.” and;
· on page 19 the photograph indicates, “Only buy a helmet carrying this sticker” and shows the now discontinued Australian Standards ‘5-ticks’ sticker.
As indicated above since 17 December 2003 Australian Standards or more correctly SAIL does not certify/approve products or supply the‘5-ticks’ sticker.
To clarify the situation we should refer to the legal requirements namely the Road Rules – Victoria (link), clause 270, which indicates amongst other things, the rider and a passenger of a motor bike that is moving, or is stationary but not parked must wear an approved motor bike helmet.
“An approved motor bike helmet means a protective helmet for motor bike riders that is approved, by the Corporation by notice in the Government Gazette.”
Special Gazette No S 174 (link) indicates an approved motor bike helmets, amongst other things, “are marked with an official standards mark certifying compliance with the relevant Standard…”
A standards mark is not legally defined and given today’s marketplace and the precedence given by the Federal Government body the ACCC could be a private company’s certification trade mark or it could be the standards mark of the manufacturer, distributor, supplier or retailer.
In short, the VIC Road Rules do not require a helmet to be certified nor marked with a particular company’s certification trade mark.
Wow now thats the biggest load of legal jargon i have seen in a while ...... If you had a choice to wear one that is certified and one that is not why would you choose one that is not - In the event of an incident people generally go through enough stress without adding additional stress becasue you are hoping that the cops dont ask the question or notice your helmut doesnt have the shiny sliver sticker on it. ??
I just had an issue were i was handed a fine for travelling the wrong way on an access road next to the nepean highway i argued the finer points of the road rules but the copper said , hey mr zeb here is your ticket if you wanna argue it take it to the courts , being a know it all when it comes to the law and the reality of day to day are two different things i dont have the time or resourses to argue the finer points of the law with anyone so i would not buy or use an unaproved helmet.