Regulation No. 22 and electric bikes
Document GRSP-57-06
8 May 2015

In response to a request during the December 2014 GRSP session to resume discussions on helmet safety and electric bikes, the secretariat has prepared this background note.

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Previous Documents, Discussions, and Outcomes
9. | Regulation No. 22 (Protective helmets)

22. GRSP noted GRSP-57-06, aimed at devising a possible definition of bikes assisted by an electric engine (pedalex) and the implication of mandatory wearing of helmets type approved according to UN Regulation No. 22. The expert from EC stated that pedalex vehicles were a green alternative to be encouraged and not bogged down by the mandatory use of bulky helmets. Therefore, he suggested to create a new class of helmets in UN Regulation No. 22 addressing riders of pedalex vehicles. The expert from the Netherlands stated that currently it was not possible to design proper ventilated helmets according to UN Regulation No. 22. He added that there was not enough market and business interest to develop aerated helmets and further research would be needed. He underlined the limits of GRSP experts to solve this issue and encouraged further research. The expert from France opposed the creation of a subclass of helmets into UN Regulation No. 22. He added that the UN Regulation provides all construction principles to allow the design of helmets for high speed bicycles. The expert from Italy made a similar statement opposing the creation of a new class of helmets into the UN Regulation. He stressed the need to protect riders of high speed bicycles that should be considered motorcycles for the level of risk they imply. He finally stated that UN Regulation No. 22 was providing the proper design solution to address this kind of vehicles. The expert from Korea echoed the statement from the experts from EC and the Netherlands and informed GRSP that the lack of success of UN Regulation No. 22 in South East Asian countries was due to the lack of adequate provisions to cope with the mobility needs of tropical countries. The expert from the United States of America informed GRSP that a new NPRM had been recently issued to amend current Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS 218) to increase helmet wearing. GRSP noted a draft publication (GRSP-57-27), tabled by UNECE secretariat to improve awareness of UN Regulation No. 22 worldwide. GRSP requested his experts to provide the secretariat by first of June 2015 (close of business) information and comments to improve the draft publication.

Relates to UN R22 |