Position of France concerning the need to update helmet requirements in light of new designs and technologies presenting safety benefits and raising new safety concerns.
19. The expert from France introduced a presentation (GRSP-62-19), on the need to update the UN Regulation according to the new research results in biomechanics on head protection. The expert from FIA introduced a presentation1 showing the work progress of FIA in the field of safety helmets based on its experience from motor sports. He also announced the intention of his organization to handover its experience on improving motorcycle helmets. GRSP agreed, with the support of the experts from Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Russian Federation, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom to seek consent of WP.29 at its March 2018 session to establish an IWG on protective helmets to deal with the most urgent technical issues. The expert from Germany clarified that, for the time being, the topic of protective helmets designed for riders of bikes assisted by an electric engine (pedelec) should be excluded from the ToR of the IWG. GRSP agreed to resume discussion on this subject on the basis of a draft ToR submitted by the IWG to the May 2018 session of GRSP, pending consent of WP.29.