Safety Helmet Assessment and Rating Programme (SHARP) - A Study of its Effect on the UK Helmet Market

Description of the contract

Motorcyclists represent one of the most vulnerable road user groups in the UK. Typically, motorcyclists represent just 1% of road traffic but account for 19% of fatalities. Of these motorcyclists that are killed, 80% receive strikes to the head and in 70% of these the head injury is the most serious injury. Whilst all helmets sold in the UK must meet minimum regulatory standards, research has revealed that there were real differences in the safety performance of motorcycle helmets available in the UK market. The Department for Transport launched the Safety Helmet Assessment and Rating Programme (SHARP) in 2007. SHARP is a consumer information programme; its purpose is to provide consumers with an independent and objective assessment of the safety performance of helmets sold in the UK. SHARP follows the model of the Euro NCAP scheme for passenger car safety which was also started by the UK Department for Transport in the mid-1990s. As with Euro NCAP, SHARP carries out laboratory tests of the product under a limited range of more demanding tests than are required by regulations, the increased severity of which is related to evidence collected at the scene of accidents where motorcyclists have been killed or injured. The SHARP helmet safety information is primarily disseminated through a dedicated website (www.direct.gov.uk/sharp) but twitter is also used to engage with consumers. The programme has been successful; with the demand for this information from consumers (an average of 88,000 website visitors each month, approximately 15,000 rating leaflets distributed each year and the increasing use of SHARP material in manufacturers advertising campaigns) it is likely that SHARP influences the purchasing decision of a large number of motorcyclists. In recognition of this success, SHARP received two awards in 2013 for its contribution to improving the road safety of motorcyclists; a Prince Michael International Road Safety Award and the 2013 FIM (Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme) annual road safety award. The evidence available indicates that SHARP has been successful in influencing the UK market and thereby contributing to the decreasing trend in the number of motorcyclists killed on our roads each year. However, no formal post implementation evaluation has been carried out to determine the extent to which the programme has been successful. The Department therefore wishes to commission research that will assess the degree to which SHARP has influenced the UK motorcycle helmet market. The report of this study will be used to inform future policy development, management of the programme to maximise value for money and may also be taken into consideration when developing new strategies to disseminate SHARP helmet safety information.

Additional information

Awarded suppliers

Who to contact