Sweden is an international leader in road safety research. As in 1959, when Volvo was the first car manufacturer in the world to install a three-point seat belt in series production. The Scandinavians are also leading the way when it comes to bicycles. In Stockholm, for example, 70 per cent of cyclists wear a helmet, compared to just one in four German cyclists. A new Swedish innovation is currently causing a furore. "MIPS" is the name of this little-known safety promise. Behind the four letters is the word monster "Multi-Directional Impact Protection System".
Niklas Steenberg (MIPS Managing Director)
"We have been researching how best to protect the head from injuries in accidents for 15 years. MIPS technology is just one result of this. The current EN standard also urgently needs to be revised. We have been pushing for this for years. We are working with the CEN committee to include rotational forces and oblique impact angles in the test procedures. Because this happens much more often in practice. In the future, we will see more helmets with MIPS: Motorbike and bicycle helmets, but also helmets for ice hockey and American football."
Dr Wolfram Hell (Accident researcher LMU Munich)
"During my visit to Sweden six weeks ago, I had a look at the MIPS system. The idea itself sounds quite clever, but I still lack scientific proof. The MIPS people advertise with pictures of simulation software, which we also work with. But you should always be careful with that. It could also be a clever, potent marketing campaign. Of course, an institute is named as the source of the data. But the data could also be bought or interpreted in favour of MIPS. I hope not! My Swedish colleagues at least think a lot of the idea."
More information and all MIPS models are available on the MIPS website: www.mipshelmet.com
You will find our verdict on the MIPS helmets in BIKE 1/2013, available from newsagents from 4 December.
