While children all over Lismore and the Northern Rivers are riding their bikes over the long weekend, the NSW Government's second annual Helmet Safety Testing and Assessment Ratings (STAR) has awarded five stars to a $30 white unicorn helmet available from Kmart.

It joins the $22 Bluey helmet, awarded five stars in 2024, as a value option with the highest safety. This shows you don't have to break the household budget to keep your children safe while they ride.

Children’s helmets on the market can cost up to $290.

The children’s helmet rated as safest overall this year is the Fox Rampage Youth MIPS, which retails at $290.

Modelled on ANCAP safety ratings for motor vehicles, Helmet STAR provides an easy-to-understand safety rating for new helmets based on comprehensive testing, giving a guide to parents and adult riders.

Each helmet is impact tested at the NSW Crashlab in Western Sydney, where Transport for NSW technicians conduct examinations including vertical drops, a strap strength test, and drop tests with moving platforms. The helmet’s ability to protect the user’s head in each scenario is tested, and a star rating is assigned.

Helmets tested include models specifically for skaters and foot scooter riders.

One star means the helmet “meets the crash protection required by recognised helmet standards” in Australia, while five stars means the helmet is “exceptional in crash protection and well above the recognised helmet standards.”

The release of safety ratings for 54 bicycle helmets this year brings the total number of reviews and ratings available to 115, and the NSW Government urges all riders and parents to seek out the list.

This year, the testing regime has been extended to rate both open-face and full-face mountain bike helmets, with the $275 POC Tectal Race MIPS helmet taking out five stars in the open-face category and the $350 Met Parachute full-face helmet also achieving five stars.

Others awarded five stars include the $300 POC Ventral Air MIPS general-purpose.

Click here for a link to the latest ratings for all helmets.

Minister for Roads John Graham said, “The children’s helmets we tested this year ranged in price from $30 to $290. That can leave parents wondering how much they have to pay to ensure their kids are safe on their bikes, scooters and skateboards.

“The good news is price does not always equal safety, and value options that deliver five-star safety do exist.

“The great news is the Helmet STAR ratings system, now in its second year, is building up a valuable resource for parents and all adult riders to check whether their helmet choice ticks all the boxes on safety.

“Similar to car safety ratings it is a simple check for lasting peace of mind.

“By wearing a five-star rated helmet, you are two to two and a half times less likely to sustain a serious head injury than if you were wearing a one-star helmet. This puts the power of choice in the hands of consumers.” 

Minister for Roads Jenny Aitchison said, “Wearing a helmet when riding a bike is one of the most important things you can do, with research showing they can reduce head injuries by about 70% and fatal injuries by 65%. Choosing the right one is crucial.

"This year, the Helmet STAR program has expanded to include a broader range of helmet types. In addition to helmets for general or road use and for wheeled toys like scooters and skateboards, the program now also tests both open-face and full-face mountain bike helmets."

“The Helmet STAR awards a star rating from one to five, with one-star helmets meeting the Australian crash protection standards, while five-star rated helmets provide exceptional protection in a crash.

“With ratings for over 100 helmets across a variety of ranges and price points, I encourage everyone to visit the website and make an informed decision when buying a helmet.”