SHARP the helmet safety scheme has recently rated an additional 25 helmets taking the total of helmets rated so far to 150.

A good helmet in a motorcycle accident can be the difference between a rider walking away, or suffering serious head injuries or even death.

The UK already has a legal minimum safety standard for helmets, but the new scheme goes further by providing ratings.

The Department for Transport (DfT) runs the Safety Helmet Assessment and Ratings Programme (SHARP) tests and allocates star ratings between one and five, with five being the safest, in the hope that bikers get themselves a safe helmet which could save their life should they be involved in a motorcycle accident.

The safety of helmets can differ by as much as 70%, so providing this information gives motorcyclists the option to choose what protection they will get, also advice on picking a good fitting helmet is provided.

The Road Safety Minister Paul Clark said: "If all riders wore the safest helmets available 50 lives could be saved each year. By providing comprehensive and independent safety information through SHARP and the THINK! Motorcycle Academy, as well as reminding drivers to look out for bikes, I hope that we can help to make the roads safer for motorcyclists and see a reduction in the number of needless tragedies which happen each year."