Motorcycle dealer John Mamo with an EU-approved helmet. Photo: Paul Spiteri Lucas

Motorcyclists are buying unregulated helmets which do not provide adequate crash protection, motorcycle dealers have warned.

“People are buying helmets from dodgy websites. These are often not safety tested. Why take that risk?” asked lifelong motorcycle dealer John Mamo.

EU-approved helmets are put through their paces with rigorous road safety tests and are easily identifiable by a tag on their internal padding.

However, an increasing number of motorcyclists are turning to cheaper non-EU approved variations available on a host of websites.

A Transport Authority spokesman urged motorcyclists to ensure their helmets adhered to EU safety regulations.

“Helmets should be tested and fall in line with EU safety standards. This is for the safety of the rider after all,” he said.

You can wear a €10 helmet if you’ve got a €10 head

Motorcyclist Clint Chircop said he was shocked by the poor quality of some of the online purchases.

“I saw one that barely had any padding and another that was very shoddily put together. I’m sure they look fine on the websites and if you don’t know much about helmets, you might think they’re OK,” he said.

Mr Mamo said he had been surprised at the number of motorcycle owners who, in recent months, had decided to put money and style above personal safety.

“This is something not worth saving on, particularly when the savings are of a few euros. You can wear a €10 helmet if you’ve got a €10 head,” he said.

Mr Mamo explained that helmets purchased from non-EU sites are usually meant for non-European markets.

“They might be meant for the Asian, African or South American markets. They have very different safety standards to us,” he said.

Basic safety-tested helmets cost some €40 with high-end variations selling for as much as €500 to €600.

An exercise by this newspaper found websites offering helmets for as little as €25.

Dealers pointed out that the allure of significant savings was often coupled with a greater stylistic choice.

“Many bikers wear vintage military style helmets. These offer close to no protection,” Mr Mamo said.

Earlier this week, the Consumer Authority ordered the recall of dozens of half helmets from local dealers. As opposed to full helmets, half helmets are open faced and do not cover the lower jaw. While not illegal, a particular variation of the half helmet is.

A Competition and Consumer Affairs spokesman explained that an unspecified number of half helmets which did not protect the ears and sides of the face had been on offer at dealers. These types of helmets were prohibited shortly after EU accession in 2004.

The spokesman urged motorcyclists to use half helmets which provided protection for the sides of the face.

Motorcycle dealer Ray Vassallo said that a number of the unapproved helmets were being used on Maltese roads.

“I’ve noticed people wearing these helmets. I’ve even seen riders wearing none at all,” he said, adding he had also noticed riders of the classic fardal motorcycles and motorised bicycles using unregulated head gear including hard hats.