More than 350 items of substandard motorcycle protective clothing were removed from sale at a bike show earlier this month after Officers from Suffolk County Council Trading Standards deemed the products potentially dangerous.
During on-the-spot inspections at the Copdock Bike Show, which was held on 4 September Officers discovered six stallholders selling motorcycle Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) that did not comply with safety legislation.
Some of the products seized (image credit: Suffolk Trading Standards)
The retailers were issued with withdrawal notices, meaning they cannot legally sell their products until they comply with regulations.
A total of 323 pairs of jeans with knee protectors, 15 full leather body suits and 10 pairs of gloves with knuckle protectors were removed from sale. In addition, six jackets were withdrawn for not including vital impact protectors to help safeguard riders.
Out of the 15 stalls visited, no issues were found with motorcycle clothing on sale from nine traders.
Becca Grey, one of the inspecting officers, commented: “Suffolk Trading Standards issued guidance to stallholders in the weeks before the show to help make them aware of their responsibilities when selling PPE. Many were grateful for this advice and our work in stopping non-compliant products from being on the market.
“Visitors to the show also welcomed our presence, commenting that it was the first time they had ever received information on what to look out for when buying motorcycle clothing to ensure it could offer adequate protection.”
Councillor Andrew Reid, Cabinet Member for Public Health and Public Protection, added: “Protecting motorcyclists in Suffolk remains a priority for our council and I am immensely grateful to Trading Standards for reducing the risk of harm to riders by preventing them from buying dangerous protective equipment that did not contain the necessary labelling or proof that it met required standards.
“I would also like to thank the Copdock Bike Show’s organiser, Ade Smith, for enabling our attendance and working with our officers to help get important safety messaging out both before the event and on the day.”
All new motorcycle clothing placed on the market in the UK after 2018 should display a rating indicating how protective it could be in the event of a crash and a label showing it has been certified to EN17092. The EN17092 certification is divided into four classifications to help riders decide which equipment is most suitable for their needs:
- AAA – The highest level of protection specified by the standard
- AA – More suited for touring gear
- A – Used for urban riding and includes impact protectors
- B – Also deemed suitable for urban riding but comes without impact protectors
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