BSJ to establish regional motorcycle helmet-testing lab

The Bureau of Standards Jamaica (BSJ) will be establishing a regional motorcycle helmet-testing laboratory to help raise awareness about the importance of using certified, high-quality motorcycle helmets to save lives and reduce head injuries.

Executive Director of the BSJ, Dr Velton Gooden, made the announcement at the launch of the BSJ Motorcycle Helmet standard on Tuesday at the Jamaica Business Development Corporation Incubator and Resource Centre in Kingston.

“I am pleased to signal our strategic road map towards the establishment of a regional motorcycle helmet-testing laboratory right here in Jamaica. This initiative will enhance our national and regional capacity to test and verify helmet performance, reduce reliance on external facilities, and strengthen trust in the certification process. It will position Jamaica as a leader in safety infrastructure within the Caribbean,” he said.

Gooden said the initiative is a shared journey and partnership requiring the input of all stakeholders.

“Improving road safety requires collaboration, education, enforcement, and a culture shift. This standard seeks to support the efforts of the Traffic Authority, the National Road Safety Council, the Jamaica Constabulary Force, among others. This marks the beginning of a more structured coordinated approach to protecting our motorcycles and our motorcyclists and by extension all road users,” he argued.

Bringing greetings at the event, Chief Executive Officer of the CARICOM Regional Organization for Standards and Quality, Dr Sharonmae Smith Walker, congratulated the BSJ on initiating the development of a testing facility in the region, noting that this will not only strengthen the country’s capabilities but it will also ensure the country will earn foreign exchange.

She said Jamaica is among the first in the region to formalise and publicly notify a comprehensive motorcycle helmet standard through the World Trade Organization system.

“In doing so, they set a strong example of transparency, regulatory clarity and alignment with international best practices,” she said.

The CARICOM representative said the adoption of the standard reinforces a broader culture of safety that benefits many communities.

“As Jamaica moves into the implementation phase... industry engagement and robust enforcement will be critical to unlocking the full safety benefits of this standard,” she emphasised.

Smith Walker said establishing the national standard provides a clear reference point for compliance, enforcement and market surveillance, ensuring only helmets meeting important safety benchmarks should be sold or used right across the region.

“It is important to note that Jamaica’s progress reflects a growing momentum across the CARICOM member states towards improving road-safety regulations. Jamaica’s approach demonstrates what is achievable when agencies, industry and technical experts collaborate to strengthen national safety systems. It offers a valuable model that other member states may draw from as they review and update their own frameworks,” she said.

She noted that the widespread availability of uncertified and substandard helmets has long been a concern for road-safety stakeholders in Jamaica and right across the region.

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