lately Electric vehicle helmet Prices have soared, and many citizens have found it difficult to find a helmet. Along with this, the traffic police department has repeatedly proposed to wear safety helmets when riding electric bicycles. The price and quality of helmets on the market vary. What kind of helmets are safe? At present, there is no national mandatory standard for electric bicycle helmets. Citizens must consider many aspects when purchasing helmets. Do not covet low-quality products at low prices, or they will not be able to "ensure safety".
Helmets vary in styles and prices. Now, whether in physical stores, e-commerce platforms or even electric vehicle helmet manufacturers, the price of helmets varies greatly due to different styles and materials. The cheap ones are only 20 or 30 yuan, and the expensive ones are hundreds or even thousands of yuan.
At a helmet store near Xinjiekou in Nanjing, there is only a thin layer of plastic support inside. The label shows that the helmet is the enterprise specification of the electric vehicle helmet manufacturer's own "Protective Helmets for Power Assisted Vehicles". The other helmet, which costs 80 yuan, is relatively thick, but only has a plastic bracket on the inside, no buffer layer, and no logo label. On e-commerce platforms, there are a wide range of helmets, including full helmets, 3/4 helmets, flip helmets, half helmets, etc., and the prices are also very different.
It is found that there is no national standard for electric bicycle helmets
What kind of helmet quality is guaranteed? In the current national standards, bicycles have the Safety Requirements and Test Methods for Sports Helmets Bicycles, Skateboards, and Roller Skating Sports Helmets, and motorcycles have the Motorcycle Passenger Helmets (GB 811-2010), both of which are mandatory.
As for electric vehicle helmets, there is no uniform specification at the national level, and only the collective specifications issued by some regions are available for reference. It is reported that in 2019, Zhejiang Yueqing Helmet Professional Association, where helmet manufacturers are concentrated, drafted the Collective Specification for Electric Bicycle Crew Helmets, which stipulates that helmets are composed of shells, buffer layers, wearing devices, etc., and new ABS materials with tough and durable texture are used. The helmet quality (including accessories) is not more than 800g and other specifications. In addition, Shenzhen also issued a collective standard, the Technical Requirements and Test Specifications for Helmets of Electric Bicycle Riders. These specifications are only local recommendations.
Relevant experts showed in an interview that whether the helmet can play a role in safety protection depends on whether the helmet can absorb the impact force when collision occurs, whether it can defend the penetrability of other substances, and whether it can resist the impact of external forces on the head when danger occurs.
The Association requested the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology to "establish professional norms"
Hu Ye, head of the Scientific Research and Work Development Department of the Jiangsu Institute of Quality and Standardization, told that Jiangsu is a big producer of electric bicycles, not helmets, so it may be difficult to formulate relevant specifications. We should standardize the process of issuing demand cycle certification together. Before the national standard is issued, we should promote the formulation of local norms and professional norms as soon as possible, so that in the legal process, there are not only laws to follow but also norms to follow. Now several professional associations are also promoting the introduction of professional norms for electric bicycle helmets. The China Association of Cultural, Educational and Sports Goods is also actively applying for professional norms. The relevant staff of the comprehensive business department of the association informed that in June 2019, the association officially established the collective specification of Electric Bicycle Passenger Helmets, and held a kick-off discussion meeting in August. After the meeting, the Association submitted a request to the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology to draft the professional specification of Electric Bicycle Passenger Helmets according to professional and enterprise needs, but it has not been officially approved. Recently, according to relevant requirements, the Association submitted a request to the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology for the timely establishment of the professional specification of Electric Bicycle Passenger Helmets.
With regard to the specific content of the collective specification of Electric Bicycle Passenger Helmets, the staff member indicated that the content of relevant skills was being determined. The specification referred to European and American electric vehicle helmet specifications and China's Motorcycle Passenger Helmets and other national specifications. "As far as the current situation is concerned, shopping malls have a high demand for the professional norms of Electric Bicycle Passenger Helmets. If the professional norms are approved, the Association will discuss whether to promote the application of national norms for electric bicycle passenger helmets according to the reaction of shopping malls." said the staff member.
It is better to recognize the "3C" sign than the helmet quality
At present, in the absence of national and professional norms, how do citizens choose to buy helmets? In this regard, the supervision department of the shopping mall advocates that it is better to choose helmets for motorcycle passengers, so that the safety performance is higher. The qualified motorcycle helmet will have CCC certification, and we can recognize this mark.
At present, helmets on the market are divided into full helmets, 3/4 helmets, half helmets and lift up helmets. Among them, full helmets are the best in terms of energy absorption and penetration resistance, and have the highest safety. However, due to poor air permeability. In contrast, 3/4 helmets can be selected for overall protection and breathability.
What needs to be reminded is that during the visit, it was found that some citizens were wearing helmets for construction sites when riding electric bicycles. In this regard, relevant experts suggested that the safety helmet used on the construction site is mainly used to cushion the impact of falling objects on the head, and cannot replace the protection required for riding an electric bicycle. In addition, our common half helmets on the road can only protect the safety of the overhead area, and are not recommended.
The traffic police department specially reminds that in addition to purchasing helmets with guaranteed quality, citizens must also learn to use helmets correctly. In particular, the position of the chin socket should be adjusted and fastened. A finger space should be left at the chin. For a safe and appropriate wearing method, it is not allowed to draw pictures or do not fasten them because it is troublesome, otherwise the effect of maintenance cannot be achieved at a critical moment.
In order to facilitate wearing helmets when going out, relevant departments advocate that citizens can buy matching helmet locks, so that they can lock the helmet directly on the vehicle without worrying about being taken away by others, killing two birds with one stone.
The State Administration of Shopping Mall Supervision: Strictly investigate the rare goods available in helmet stores and drive up prices
Recently, the Traffic Management Bureau of the Ministry of Public Security has arranged the "One Helmet and One Belt" safety care campaign nationwide, advocating that motorcycle and electric bicycle riders wear helmets correctly. The demand for helmets in shopping malls has increased significantly, and the prices in shopping malls have soared. The General Administration of Market Supervision continued to attach importance to the price change of helmet stores and strengthened the price supervision of helmet stores.
The Price Supervision and Competition Bureau of the General Administration of Shopping Mall Supervision has issued a notice requiring the supervision departments of shopping malls all over the country to effectively strengthen the supervision of price behavior of helmet shopping malls, actively carry out shopping mall patrol and public opinion monitoring, and remind operators such as electric vehicle helmet manufacturers and dealers to operate in accordance with the law, operate in good faith, and strengthen price self-discipline. At the same time, the supervision departments of shopping malls around the country are required to work with local public security organs to strictly and quickly investigate and deal with illegal acts such as falsifying distribution price increase information, rare goods are available, driving up prices, collusion in price increase, and those suspected of committing crimes will be handed over to the public security organs for investigation. The department of market supervision will do a solid job in price supervision of helmet stores, and safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of customers and legal operators.
