New survey suggests many motorcyclists have a blasé attitude to helmet safety, as Ian Marsden reports

Almost 400,000 UK motorcyclists are using crash helmets that need to be replaced because they no longer offer maximum protection, new research suggests.

Helmet manufacturers and independent safety experts, such as the Snell Foundation, agree that helmets should be worn for no more than five years due to degradation in the glues and resins. However, a survey commissioned by motorcycle insurer Carole Nash has found that 62 per cent of motorcyclists would only buy a new helmet if they had been involved in an accident.

In addition, 63 per cent said they would continue to use their helmet after dropping it, even though there would be a risk that it had suffered internal damage that cannot be seen. And while nearly half of bikers (45 per cent) will initially spend more than £200 on their helmet, 38 per cent opt for one finished in fashionable – but hard to spot – black, ahead of more visible options such as blue (14 per cent) and yellow (six per cent).

Rebecca Donohue, head of marketing at Carole Nash, said: “While it’s encouraging to see that bikers are making an initial investment in their lids, we urge them to not see this as a one-time expense. With premium manufacturers like Arai offering free helmet checks to their customers, we would even recommend bikers who have just dropped their helmets to get them checked out. After all, it’s better to be safe than sorry.”