South Ayrshire Council News

The warning comes after receiving a complaint concerning a motorcycle accident in South Ayrshire, where the helmet worn by the person involved in the accident split into pieces. On examination it was found to have no identifying marks of where it had come from and no compulsory safety markings. This made it impossible to ascertain whether it was made to strict safety standards.

A spokesperson for South Ayrshire Trading Standards advised, “The helmet cost the biker £19.99 and was bought from a person on an Internet auction site who described it as “Motocross / Motorbike NEW!! BARGAIN!!! Motorcycle helmet.”

“To trace the origin of the motorcycle helmet into the U.K. has proved difficult. The consumer bought the helmet from an online auction trader who in turn purchased the item from another Internet auction trader who is no longer trading. Consumers should be cautious when buying safety equipment online. If the seller is a private individual then it is very difficult if not impossible to get your money back. There are literally hundreds of crash helmets on the market, making it very difficult to decide which to buy. Buying safety equipment such as a crash helmet is difficult as there are different factors that have to be taken into consideration before choosing the right item.“

The spokesman added, “All new motorcycle helmets should be manufactured to a European Standard. The European Standard markings are located in the inside of the helmet. The marking contains a batch code and country of origin etc. that is essential if there are ever any problems to enable the helmet to be traced.”

Colin Nisbet of Ayr Motorcycle Centre stated, “When buying a crash helmet using online auction sites you have no idea who you are dealing with and cannot try items on beforehand. To buy a motorcycle helmet it must be fitted by a professional to ensure it is the right fit. Obviously it is important to choose a helmet that fits properly and is comfortable, so you should ensure you try on different sizes before you buy. No matter how tight your budget is you should always buy new. A safety helmet is designed to absorb the impact by crushing or compressing so it can only work once. Modern helmets have tough outer skins typically made from either fibreglass or polycarbonate, which makes it very difficult to determine internal damage. A shiny outer skin is no guarantee that the impact absorbing polystyrene lining is still effective.”

South Ayrshire Councillor Peter Convery, who is responsible for Trading Standards issues said, “The lure of online auction sites can be very strong and whilst there is no doubt that there are bargains to be had I would urge people to seriously consider the possible consequences of buying important safety items from a trader they do not recognise. It’s simply not worth the risk. If anyone has any concerns about any item on sale that may be unsafe they should get in touch with Trading Standards who will advise them on what to do or precautions to take when buying such items. The advice is free and confidential at the Trading Standards Advice Centre, 5-7 River Terrace, Ayr or by calling Ayr 61 60 60”.