“The counterfeit helmet industry has become very good at producing counterfeit helmets, making it challenging for people who don’t study helmets to identify the real ones.” – Terry Smith, Principal Scientist, Galeatus, LLC.
Despite the proven benefits of certified helmets, many riders, especially in low-income countries, face challenges in accessing quality protection. In this interview, helmet safety expert Terry Smith sheds light on the collaborative and achievable efforts needed from governments, manufacturers, NGOs, and consumers to limit the use of unsafe helmets.
Challenges in recognizing quality helmets
“The counterfeit helmet industry has become very sophisticated. Counterfeit helmets are made to look almost identical to certified ones, making it hard for the average person to distinguish between a genuine certified helmet and a fake one,” says Terry. This issue is particularly prevalent in low- and middle-income countries. He describes three tiers of helmets commonly found in LMICs:
Terry identifies the latter two categories as the primary challenges in low- and middle-income countries. “A motorcycle rider believes they’re getting the right protection with these particular products, but unfortunately they’re not because these products have never gone through the full certification process.”
Communicating quality helmet identification to users
Collaborating with national standards bodies to create labels that are difficult to counterfeit is crucial, says Terry. “Some countries now use advanced labeling, including holograms and QR codes, to verify certified helmets. A motorcycle rider could scan it and see a list of certified products by standards agencies.” It is also important to educate users on identifying the key features of a protective helmet, such as a continuous shell, 25 to 30 millimeters of energy-absorbing foam, and a high-quality buckle.
Affordability and helmet cost in low- and middle-income countries
“While producing a certified helmet might cost around $20 at the manufacturing facility, shipping, tariffs, and distribution can increase this cost to $40 or more in countries like Ghana or Togo,” explains Terry about the difficulty low- and middle-income countries face in accessing quality helmets due to the high costs involved. This price is significant when compared to the average monthly income in these countries, often forcing individuals to choose between essential needs, like food, and purchasing a helmet. Terry sets out several strategies to mitigate this, including:
Local helmet manufacturing can be explored to eliminate importation VATs, reduce transportation costs, and foster job creation. “Efforts are underway in Africa, including construction of a helmet factory in Algeria to supply affordable helmets to the region. Insurance companies, which have a vested interest in reducing claims by promoting certified helmet use, can support helmet programs through subsidies or discounts, making helmets more affordable for riders” says Terry.
Enforcing helmet safety standards in low- and middle-income countries
There is a lack of mechanisms to monitor and control the importation of certified helmets. Governments often fail to verify compliance with safety standards like ECE 22 or DOT. “Importation documents might simply list 100 motorcycle helmets without indicating whether they meet any certification requirements. The government needs some sort of proof that they are in compliance,” says Terry. Countries need to establish a national helmet standard, enact helmet laws, and implement importation controls to ensure only certified products enter the market.
Another problem identified by Terry is the importation of cheap plastic helmets labeled as “toys.” Manufacturers use this classification to bypass certification requirements. These products flood the market and mislead consumers into thinking they are legitimate helmets. Terry points out the need for legislation to prevent this practice, similar to what the United States did with bicycle helmets: “Anything that looks like a bicycle helmet must be in compliance with this US bicycle helmet standard.”
Steps for government action against counterfeit helmets
There are practical steps governments can take to combat counterfeit helmets effectively. Terry summarizes these into three main steps as shown in Box 1 below.
| Add helmets to the Consumer Protection Act: in the same way as how other products like baby formula and medicine are regulated. “This move would grant the government the authority to seize and destroy products that do not protect the consumer and do not comply with established standards, such as ECE 22.” |
| Enforce and publicize actions: government can actively crack down on counterfeit products and use media coverage to show the destruction of seized counterfeit helmets, sending a strong message that helmet safety is a priority. |
| Implement monitoring and rating systems: Establish a watchdog system by the national standards agency to sample and test helmet products entering the market. |
Improving public awareness and advocacy for helmet safety
Several methods to enhance public awareness and advocacy for helmet safety are highlighted by Terry, including demonstrating helmet performance, combating safety myths, appealing to personal safety, using celebrity endorsements, and highlighting certified helmets.
“To demonstrate helmet performance, show the difference between a qualified and an unqualified helmet. Videos can be used to demonstrate how unqualified helmets break apart in crashes, offering clear evidence to people that this product is not going to protect you in the event of a crash,” says Terry.
Furthermore, combatting safety myths is crucial as many riders believe they are safe without a helmet because they consider themselves careful drivers. “A large percentage of motorcycle crashes involve another vehicle that you have no control over. Riders need to understand that crashes can occur even when they are not at fault.”
“It is also important to appeal to personal safety and letting riders know that wearing a helmet can maximize their potential to avoid severe injury and keep their mental capacity intact.”
Additionally, engaging celebrities and using social media can greatly amplify the message, coupled with educating the public to look for specific labels or QR codes on helmets.
Collaborative approaches for helmet safety advocacy
A concurrent approach is needed, involving all stakeholders—manufacturers, governments, rider groups, and civil society.
NGO strategies for enhancing helmet safety in LMICs
Terry outlined several key strategies for NGOs to play their role in increasing availability of safe helmets, particularly in LMICs:
Future steps for helmet safety standards in LMICs
Terry envisions a future where existing global helmet safety standards are more widely adopted in low- and middle-income countries, rather than creating new standards. He believes that “products made to any of the existing national helmet standards provide excellent protection to motorcycle riders. The key lies in developing legislation that allows certified products to enter countries and establishing procedures to verify their certification.”
He suggests that many LMICs already have well-run standards agencies for other products, often supported by the International Standards Organization (ISO). Thus, they can use these same mechanisms for motorcycle helmets, as the customs and importation systems are already in place.
“The difference between having a helmet on your head and not having it on your head is often the difference between life and death. None of us know when we’re going to need that product. Governments, user groups, and law enforcement need to do everything possible to eliminate counterfeit helmets and promote helmet quality and safety,” says Terry.
