The aim of this project is to assess whether the differences between the technical requirements and quality assurance approaches used by the Snell B95 and AS/NZS 2063:1996 standards for bicycle helmets are likely to result in significant differences in the level of safety provided by bicycle helmets manufactured to either standard. The following approach has been used: 1. To review existing studies of bicycle helmet effectiveness, including those by Attewell et al, Henderson and Rivara et al, to assess the levels of injury reduction associated with helmets generally; 2. Representative samples of helmets, to both standards, were acquired and tested in a laboratory environment with emphasis on simulating the helmet protective performance in real world crashes as defined in the review in Part 1; 3. Finally, consideration was given to the role of the quality assurance regime within the manufacturing process, and the need for some form of external quality assurance process conducted by independent testing laboratories. (Author/publisher)
Abstract