From BikeRumor.com
Written by Jeremy Benson
Earlier this month, the Virginia Tech Helmet Lab released a memorandum explaining an update to its STAR rating score thresholds for bicycle and football helmets. Turns out, helmets are getting safer, and the helmet test team felt “the 5-star label had become diluted.” So, they felt this threshold adjustment was needed “to restore the ability of our system to differentiate.” Essentially, it had become too easy for modern helmets to earn a 5-star rating under the old scoring thresholds.
Virginia Tech Helmet Test Lab
If you are unfamiliar, the Virginia Tech Helmet Test Lab has been independently testing and rating bicycle helmets since 2018 and has become one of the most trusted sources for comparative impact performance data. Using a standardized testing protocol, Virginia Tech has tested hundreds of bicycle helmets — along with other sports like football, equestrian, and snow sports — to provide objective comparative data to inform consumers and manufacturers alike.