FIA makes first Helmets standard .The FIA has concluded a project to develop a crash helmet especially for younger drivers.
In just two years the FIA Institute and its partner Snell Memorial Foundation, have created a new Youth Helmet Standard for two age groups: 7-11 year-olds and 12-16 year-olds. Professor Sid Watkins, FIA President and FIA Institute project manager, says that the Youth Helmet Project demonstrates the FIA Institue’s commitment showing the work carried out by Andy Mellor, project manager and motor sport medicine experts Dr Terry Trammell and Dr Steve Olvey. A huge amount of data about children’s head mass, head geometry and the changes that occur with growth was collated and analysed. Three models representing average size, shape and mass of a youth’s head were made and sent to Osbe, technical partner and helmet manufacturer who styled them into working prototypes. Shells and liners were tested by Newton-Milan and solution specifications were agreed for joint FIA-Snell certification. The partnership between Snell and FIA brings together two organisations committed to promoting safety. The new Snell-FIA CHM2007 will deliver safer, lighter helmets for young drivers