Only 4 Bike Helmets Earned 5 Stars In Safety Test

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) - Only four bicycle helmets earned 5 stars in a new rating system developed by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and Virginia Tech.

The researchers did impact tests on 30 bicycle helmets to determine if those helmets reduced "linear acceleration and rotational velocity of the head" during a crash. 5 stars were given to the helmets that provide a lower concussion risk.

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The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and Virginia Tech only recommend buying or using 4 or 5 star helmets.

5 star helmets:

• Bontrager Ballista MIPS
• Louis Garneau Raid MIPS
• Bell Stratus MIPS
• Specialized Chamonix MIPS

4 star helmets:

• SCOTT Arx PLUS (MIPS)
• Bontrager Quantum MIPS
• Specialized S-Works Prevail II
• Smith Optics Overtake
• Giro Savant
• Bell Draft MIPS
• POC Octal
• Giro Foray MIPS
• Giro Synthe
• Giro Sutton MIPS
• Specialized S-Works Evade II
• Louis Garneau Le Tour II

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All helmets sold in the United States must be Consumer Product Safety Commission-certified. That standard requires the helmet protect against catastrophic injuries during an extreme impact. Helmets can also opt for other U.S. standards: Snell standard, standards for snow sports, and standards for skate sports.