Guidance

Motorcycle helmets, visors and goggles

Updated 22 July 2025

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/motorcycle-helmets-visors-and-goggles-safety-advice/motorcycle-helmets-visors-and-goggles

General guidance and advice on the legal requirements in Great Britain relating to motorcycle helmets, visors and goggles.

Wearing a helmet

If you are driving or riding on a 2-wheeled motorcycle on a road you must wear a helmet.

You don’t need to wear a helmet if you are:

  • a passenger in a sidecar
  • a Sikh who is wearing a turban
  • pushing the motorcycle on foot

Buying a helmet

All helmets worn on UK roads must meet one of the following:

  • British Standard BS 6658:1985 and carry the BSI Kitemark
  • UNECE Regulation 22.05
  • UNECE Regulation 22.06
  • a European Economic Area member standard offering at least the same safety and protection as BS 6658:1985, and carry a mark equivalent to the BSI Kitemark

Examples of UNECE standards markings

A helmet that is fitted with a non protective face cover should be marked to indicate the unsuitability of the lower face cover to offer any protection against impacts to the chin. This should be by way of a marking on the lower face cover with the words ‘Does not protect chin from impacts’ and / or the approved symbol (example below).

Helmet standards

You must wear a helmet which has been approved to UNECE Regulation 22.05, UNECE Regulation 22.06 or to one of the following British Standards.

British Standard number

  • 2001:1956 may be worn only
  • 1869:1960 may be worn only
  • 2495:1960 may be worn only
  • 2001:1972 may be worn only
  • 5361:1976 may be worn only
  • 2495:1977 may be worn only
  • 6658:1985 may be sold and worn

Alternatively, you can wear other types of helmet which could reasonably be expected to give an equivalent level of protection in an accident as British Standard 6658:1985, UNECE Regulation 22.05 or UNECE Regulation 22.06.

SHARP

The Safety Helmet Assessment and Ratings Programme (SHARP) is a consumer information scheme that uses a 1 to 5 star rating scale to indicate the level of protection a helmet can provide.

Visors and goggles

Visors must comply with the one these standards:

  • grade X in British Standard BS 4110:1979
  • grades XA, YA or ZA in British Standard BS 4110:1979 as amended by AMD 3368, AMD 4060 and AMD 4360 - it will be marked with the number of the standard, have the grade and the British Standard Kitemark

In the case of visors also look for approval to UNECE Regulation 22.05 or UNECE Regulation 22.06. The visor will be marked with a UN ‘E’ mark and the first 2 digits of the approval number will be 05 or 06.

Examples of UNECE standards markings

Visors may also be sold if they comply with any standard accepted by an EEA state:

  • which offers a level of protection which is equivalent to British Standard BS 4110:1979
  • are marked with a certification mark which is equivalent to the British Standard ‘kitemark’

In the case of goggles also look for approval to Council Directive 89/686/EEC as amended by 93/68/EEC and 96/58/EEC. They will be marked with a ‘CE’ mark.

Eye protectors first used before 1 April 1989 and fitted with lenses designed to correct a sight defect, transmit 50% or more of visible light and do not fly into fragments if fractured may also be used.

If you use a visor or goggles they must be approved to one of the appropriate standards above. Those visors marked ‘Daytime Use Only’ or having the symbol with the same meaning (example below) should only be used in daytime.

Visors that transmit less than 50% of visible light do not fully comply with any of the standards above and cannot legally be used on the road.

You must wear glasses or contact lenses when you ride if you need them to read a number plate at the prescribed distance.

Consolidated versions of National regulations can be found in Sweet and Maxwell’s ‘Encyclopaedia of road traffic law and practice (construction and use)’ which should be available at most main reference libraries.

Copies of national regulations can also be purchased from:

The Stationery Office
Orders/Post Cash Department
PO Box 29
Norwich
NR3 1GN

Telephone: 0870 600 5522
Fax: 0870 600 5533
Email: customer.services@tso.co.uk
Website: www.tso.co.uk

You can download UNECE Regulation 22 from the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe website.

The requirements for helmets are set out in full in The Motor Cycles (Protective Helmets) Regulations 1998 and The Motor Cycles (Protective Helmets) (Amendment) Regulations 2000. The requirements for visors and goggles are set out in full in he Motor Cycles (Eye Protectors) Regulations 1998 and The Motor Cycles (Eye Protectors) (Amendment) Regulations 2000.

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