Motorcycle protective clothing certified to the highest protection standard under the EN 17092 series is primarily designed with recreational riders in mind. However, whether this standard adequately addresses the elevated occupational hazards faced by professional riders, such as police officers, is a growing concern.
Unlike leisure riders, motorcycle police officers operate routinely in high-risk environments, responding to emergencies, conducting escorts, and patrolling in all weather conditions. Under the Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Regulation, equipment must be suitable for the specific operational risks of the user. Applying a recreational standard to professional workers falls short of this 'fit for purpose' mandate.
These concerns are particularly critical because the previous European standard, EN 13595, which was widely used for professional motorcycle clothing, included significantly higher performance requirements in key areas such as abrasion resistance. Recent research also suggests that current test methods under EN 17092 may not provide an adequate assessment of protection in real-world crash scenarios.
To address this, the ETUC joined forces with EuroCOP and experts representing police motorcyclists to join CEN/TC 162/WG 9 ‘Motorcycle rider protective clothing’. While the work is not expected to focus on the revision of EN 17092, there is potential for the development of a new European standard addressing the specific protective needs of professional motorcycle riders, including police motorcyclists.
The ETUC supports this initiative and will seek to ensure that the experience of workers and the specific risks faced by professional riders are taken into account, with a view to strengthening safety and ensuring the highest possible level of protection for professional users.
