Some of these cameras are dangerous, experts warn (Picture: Getty Images)

Bikers who wear helmet-mounted cameras are a danger to Britain’s roads, an expert has warned.

While most cams are perfectly legal to use, some authorities are now questioning whether that’s a good thing for those on two wheels, arguing they can disrupt aerodynamics while also encouraging reckless riding.

Lawyer Paul Breen, Head of Catastrophic and Serious Injury at Cassell Moore, said some types of video cams, particularly those mounted on the side of a helmet, can interfere with a rider’s stability, causing buffeting at high speeds and in turn leading to neck fatigue and, ultimately, a potentially deadly loss of concentration.



He said: ‘I’d urge the Government to take a closer look at the law regarding helmet cams. There are many makes and models on the market. Some are “bullet” shaped and sit on the very top of the helmet, making very little difference to the aerodynamics of a helmet.


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Such cameras could pose a danger to the user and other motorists (Picture: GoPro)

‘But others are much more obtrusive – large, rectangular in shape and jutting out to one side. Ask any rider and they’ll tell you how the shape of a helmet can make an enormous difference as to how aerodynamic they are. So it doesn’t take a genius to see that a prominent camera, plus mounting, could create extra drag.

‘My worry is that this could lead to buffeting. While it may not be noticeable on short rides, it could cause neck fatigue on longer journeys. A tired rider is a distracted one, and a distracted one is an accident waiting to happen.’

Tim Shallcross, Head of Technical Policy at the respected road safety charity Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) said: ‘The risk with these cameras is in thinking, “oh, I need to get the perfect shot” instead of riding sensibly and concentrating on the road.

Helmetcams and the law The law in Britain states that a camera can be attached to a helmet using a bracket but cannot be secured by drilling holes in the shell, as that compromises the integrity of the head gear. Peter Atcliffe, a Senior Lecturer in Aerodynamics at The University of Salford, said: ‘There is no doubt that the addition of a camera to a helmet will change the airflow around it. ‘A camera attached to the side of a helmet is more likely to affect a rider than one mounted on top of it because the flow around it will be asymmetric and the balance of its weight will obviously be skewed to the side on which is it attached. ‘In some instances, it could be something that causes a persistent ache in the neck and subsequent tiredness.”

Motorcyclist wear the video cameras and upload footage to YouTube (Picture: Getty)

‘Admittedly, they can become useful when filming accidents. But at the same time we’re increasingly seeing on YouTube footage of extremely discourteous driving by helmet-cam wearers. Many of those buying a camera won’t think of the aerodynamics of it. But it’s a threat to stability.

‘And it’s a question of speed. The camera on a bicycle causes no problems. When you move to a motorbike that is riding at 70 mph, or more, that’s when you get a problem.

‘I’d urge bikers to try the cameras out on safer roads at a number of different speeds to check for any stability issues.

‘And secondly, more importantly, don’t put yourself in the position of taking any silly risks simply to upload a good shot to YouTube.

‘There are quite a few instances on the Internet which capture a rider’s final moments.

‘The most dangerous form of driving on the roads is on a motorbike – don’t add to to the risk with a helmet cam.’



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The bullet-style cameras are the safest to use, say experts

Professor Peter Bearman is a Professor of Experimental Aerodynamics at Imperial College London said: ‘Theres’s the potential for a helmet cam to have a harrowing effect at high speed. At 70 mph the aerodynamic drag force on the camera could be between one and two kilograms, depending on the shape of the frontal area.

‘The other distraction I can think of is a vibration due to a loose or flexible mounting, in which case some kind of aerodynamic buffeting will occur.

‘The rider’s sense of balance will be affected by the camera. Meanwhile a camera could become a dangerous projectile if it became detached at high speed.’

But Graeme Hill, a spokesman for the British Motorcyclists Federation, said: “If you look at the figures, nine out of ten motorcycle crashes are caused by other motorists. By obtaining the footage of these crashes, law firms are actually assisted by the helmet cameras, not impeded.

‘This means that despite Cassell Moore’s claims, they should be open minded when sending out a warning to motorcyclists on the dangers of helmet cameras.’