Helmet Changes

The Victorian Government announced last Thursday that effective immediately that will allow European Standards motorcycle helmets to be worn legally on Victorian roads this follows Queensland’s  lead on this issue.We have raised allowing European standards helmets be allowed for use on WA roads and this is now being looked at by the Department of Transport and the Commission for Road Safety. The following is the Victorian Government Gazette covering this issue.1720 G 31 6 August 2015 Victoria Government Gazette Road Safety Act 1986ROAD SAFETY ROAD RULES 2009Approved Motor Bike Helmets

1. Purpose

The purpose of this notice is to set out the motor bike helmets that are approved for use under the Road Safety Road Rules 2009 (in this notice referred to as the Road Rules).

2. Authorising provision

This notice is made under Rule 407(d) of the Road Rules which states that the Corporation, by notice published in the Government Gazette, may declare a motor bike helmet to be an approved motor bike helmet for the purposes of the Road Rules.

3. Commencement

This notice comes into operation on the date of publication.

4. Expiry

This notice expires on 9 November 2019.

5. Revocation

The notice published in Government Gazette No. G 15 on Thursday 12 April 2012 entitled ‘Approved Motor Bike Helmets’ is revoked.

6. Definition

In this notice –‘AS 1698-1988’ means Australian Standard AS 1698-1988 ‘Protective Helmets for Vehicle Users’, incorporating all amendments approved and published by Standards Australia;‘AS/NZS 1698:2006’ means Australian/New Zealand Standard AS/NZS 1698-2006 ‘Protective Helmets for Vehicle Users’, incorporating all amendments approved and published by Standards Australia and Standards New Zealand, or any later version of that standard;‘ECE 22.05’ means the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (ECE) Regulation No. 22 ‘Uniform Provisions Concerning the Approval of Protective Helmets and their Visors for Drivers and Passengers of Motor Cycles and Mopeds’, incorporating the 05 series of amendments to that regulation, and any further amendments approved and published by the ECE, or any later version of that standard; and‘relevant Standard’ means:(i) AS 1698-1988; or(ii) AS/NZS 1698:2006; or(iii) ECE 22.05.

7. Approval of motor bike helmets

For the purposes of the term ‘approved motor bike helmet’ in the Road Rules I, Anita Curnow, delegate of the Roads Corporation, approve each motor bike helmet that –(a) complies with the relevant Standard in force at the time of its manufacture in, or importation into, Australia, as the case may be; and(b) is marked with –(i) in the case of compliance with AS 1698:1988 or AS/NZS 1698-2006 and if manufactured in, or imported into, Australia before 1 July 2012, an official standards mark certifying compliance with either of those standards; or Victoria Government Gazette G 31 6 August 2015 1721 (ii) in the case of compliance with AS 1698:1988 or AS/NZS 1698-2006 and if manufactured in, or imported into, Australia on or after 1 July 2012, a mark from a body accredited or approved by the Joint Accreditation System of Australia and New Zealand certifying compliance with either of those standards; or(iii) in the case of compliance with ECE 22.05, an international approval mark in accordance with ECE 22.05.Notes:(1) AS 1698-1988 is considered to be in force from the date on which it was first published by Standards Australia on 9 May 1988.(2) AS/NZS 1698:2006 is considered to be in force from the date on which it was first published by Standards Australia Limited and Standards New Zealand on 20 February 2006.(3) ECE 22.05 is considered to be in force from the date of entry into force of the 05 series of amendments to ECE Regulation No. 22, being 30 June 2000.(4) Words and phrases in this notice have the same meanings as in the Road Safety Act 1986 and the Regulations under that Act.Dated 3 August 2015ANITA CURNOWExecutive DirectorPolicy and Dave WrightPresidentMotorcycle Riders Association of W.A. Inc.