Helmet laws Australia

[c-more]

just had this link sent to me an interesting read

http://www.roadrider.com.au/CustomCo...aspx?ID=497109

[overlandr]

As in many other areas, it looks like harmonised laws provide the way forward. I could see that NSW testing lab being closed due to cuts.

[Precis]

Hey c-more: Thanks ... for nutting!
Last week I gave up plans to buy a helmet out of Japan (I have a round head; Caucasian helmets simply don't fit) and paid a discounted but still steep price for a "locally-legal" helmet with the all-important sticker.
Which doesn't fit my noggin.
If I'd known what is in that article, I probably would have go a helmet from some folk I know in Japan.
Bugger. Probably a "Tour New Zealand" sticker would have done just as well.

But it's good that this information is out there and full marks to the author for doing the research. It seems having too many politicians has just exaggerated the mess - and allowed helmet importers to screw up prices with scare-tactics about "illegal" foreign-sourced helmets which are identical to what they're peddling at hefty mark-ups.

[outback jack]

Good read, i'm no wiser but who would be, it's a bloody joke. Wear what you like and feel safe about your legal err illegal lid

[Silky]

I'm now more confused. Time to get drunk and re-read it, surely it'll make sense then.

[Chop Chop]

Quite simple really, damned if you do damned if you don't.

The beer option looks the best though.

[MODNROD]

Good to see my deep-seated illogical paranoia of Govt depts has been proven correct once again.

I now need a helmet for WA where I live, one for SA, then NSW and then Qld for if I ever ride the V-wobble over to the Winternationals to race, then another to make it ANDRA legal to leasurely potter down the 1/4.

Bloody oxygen thieves.

[PBee]

This is the only thing that concerns me:

"To the police: If a rider has a helmet on, that’s enough for now. You don’t look for stickers on seatbelts, just that they’re being used. Bookings for “unapproved helmet” are likely to prove unsound in court."

So I will wear a Klim f4 if it suits me then.

[Brendan J]

What a bloody nightmare

[WayneC1]

Would seem Guy is frustrated by the process of having the issue resolved & hence the publication of the article

Perhaps some email complaints to appropriate people like ACCC, politicians etc may be in order

Takes time out o the day but if it is not strictly legal to ride across state borders with our existing helmets then perhaps some stirring of the pot is needed

[rmhrc628]

Originally Posted by WayneC1

Would seem Guy is frustrated by the process of having the issue resolved & hence the publication of the article

Perhaps some email complaints to appropriate people like ACCC, politicians etc may be in order

Takes time out o the day but if it is not strictly legal to ride across state borders with our existing helmets then perhaps some stirring of the pot is needed

Wayne

I have been fighting with AS for 8 months now. I have asked them to harmonise standards so that we dont have a as1698.

They just defer and defer.

I can post up 20 emails detailing the changes the standards I have written for them.

AS are a pack of arseholes.

[Silky]

We should get organised and all go down to the AS office one day and just picket the bloody place.

[Precis]

Originally Posted by Silky

We should get organised and all go down to the AS office one day and just picket the bloody place.

Or demand back the money that's been gouged out of us under false pretences - I've probably bought 6 or 7 unneccesatily expensive helmets in the last 10 years (youngster keeps growing out of 'em - and I won't buy her cheap chinese crap).
Where IS the AS office? Does it even exist?

[abhibeckert]

OK, so after skim reading that article and going cross eyed the other day, I just read it again. I wonder if anyone is a lawyer and correct my understanding of it?

* in qld where I live, i need to wear a helmet that "permanently" and clearly marks its date of manufacture, type of materials used, and some basic safety/care advice
* in most other states, no-one really knows what the fuck is going on and it isn't even clear if so-called legit helmets are actually legit
* if I replace my old worn out australian-purchased Arai with a brand new Arai imported from overseas, and am given a ticket for not having a fancy sticker, I can represent myself court with a fairly good chance of getting it thrown out, or at least reduced to a nominal amount, because this is all so confusing



If anyone who knows what they're doing has some idea how to actually solve this mess... I'd be happy to help out in any way I can.

[WayneC1]

The answer is simple

Guy & the others bashing their heads against a brick wall need people to start lobbing emails to pollies, AS and whoever else you can think of, lodge complaints to ACCC & fair trading. In these days of email and on line complaint forms it only takes a few minutes. I lodged a formal complaint with ACCC yesterday. It is a restraint of trade issue as well as a helmet issue.

Unless there is pressure then the situation wont change

One question in my mind is where do riders stand with insurance, CTP etc if the helmet is not strictly legal, does this in any way void any of the insurance covers in the case of an accident ?