By Gift Briton
Every morning, millions of motorcycle riders across the globe strap on their helmets to protect their lives, but a new analysis reveals that many of the helmets sold in local markets are incapable of preventing serious head injuries or deaths in crashes.
The Global Alliance of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) for Road Safety, supported by the FIA Foundation, recently tested 11 helmets purchased or donated in ten countries, including Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Ghana, Greece, India, Kenya, Mexico, Nigeria, and Vietnam.
According to the independent testing analysis, zero out of the 11 motorcycle helmets passed all three basic safety tests. Only one managed to clear just one test, and the rest failed across the board.
The tests assessed three core international safety standards, including whether helmets could remain in place during impact, whether the straps could withstand force, and, most critically, whether they could absorb shock during a crash. Almost all the helmets failed to remain secure or disperse impact energy.
“People are doing the right thing by wearing helmets, but if that helmet is unsafe, they are let down when they need it most,” noted Lotte Brondum, Executive Director of the Alliance.
According to studies, helmets can reduce the risk of head injuries by up to 70 percent and the risk of death by more than 40 percent. But those figures only apply to helmets that meet rigorous safety standards. Wearing an unsafe helmet, as Brondum noted, can give riders a false sense of security.
Experts say the problem is compounded by the difficulty of distinguishing between genuine certified helmets and counterfeits. Many unsafe models bear official-looking labels or mimic the design of trusted brands. In some cases, riders believe they are buying a quality product, only to discover too late that their helmet crumpled on impact.
A safe helmet must have a hard outer shell, an energy-absorbing liner made of materials like expanded polystyrene, and a reliable retention system to keep it in place during an accident. Cheap knock-offs often skimp on these components, replacing the protective liner with decorative padding or attaching weak straps that snap under tension.
Although international regulations exist, enforcement is patchy. The United Nations’ Regulation No. 22, recently updated to ECE 22.06, sets strict standards for impact absorption, retention, and labelling. Yet only 42 countries under the UN’s 1958 agreement fully apply these rules. In many developing countries, where motorcycles are the primary mode of transportation, unsafe helmets continue to flood the market unchecked.
The Alliance’s new white paper, Making Safe Helmets a Reality for All, lays out a framework for governments, NGOs, and the private sector to address the crisis.
It calls for tighter enforcement of existing standards, tougher action against counterfeit products, and measures to make safe helmets affordable and accessible. Brondum urged NGOs to take the evidence back to their governments and use it to demand action.
Agnieszka Krasnolucka, Programmes Director at the FIA Foundation, reinforced that message, warning that the availability of unsafe helmets is “a ticking time bomb” in countries where motorcycles dominate transport systems. “Substandard helmets don’t just fail to protect,” she said. “They create a deadly illusion of safety.”
Solutions are within reach. Governments are advised to subsidize safe helmets, integrate them into motorcycle purchases, and strengthen customs checks to block unsafe imports.
Public awareness campaigns have also been fronted as a way to help riders identify and demand helmets that meet recognized standards. The private sector, from motorcycle manufacturers to delivery companies, can also play a role by ensuring employees are equipped with certified gear.
For the millions of motorcycle riders who depend on their helmets for protection, the message is clear: the product they trust with their lives may be nothing more than false security wrapped in colourful plastic. Until global markets eliminate substandard helmets, riders remain vulnerable to preventable tragedy, one crash at a time.
