Recipient

TRL Limited

First report 17 Apr 2014•Latest report 21 Dec 2022

Recipient record

Reports, concerns and published responses

Private and voluntary organisations · Transport research body. This page brings together reports naming this recipient and response statements clearly connected to concerns raised in those reports.

Reports: 2
Published responses: 50%
Concerns addressed: 2
Stated actions: 3

Reports over time

Reports naming this recipient by issue year.

Evidence profile

Report topics

Share of this recipient’s reports compared with all other recipients.

50%published responses found

3stated actions described

Topic comparisons are not available in the current evidence snapshot.

Concerns and recipient responses

Statements from TRL Limited linked to the concerns in each report. Select any concern, action or position to view the source wording.

21 Dec2022
East Riding and Hull
Concerns raised4
1. Failure to ensure correct motorcycle helmet sizing and fitting
2. Motorcycle helmets coming off or rotating during collisions
3. Lack of appropriate education for motorcycle riders
1. Lack of research and knowledge about motorcycle helmet displacement during collisions
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response 1
1. Action
  Conduct research into motorcycle-helmet loss, including retention testing, helmet design compliance and loss mechanisms.
  Stated completed
AI-generated summary

Donald Frederick HOOKER · Prevention of Future Deaths report

This summary was generated using AI from the published report. Please read the original report for the complete account.

Report summary

Donald Frederick HOOKER died on 28 August 2021 after his motorcycle’s drive chain broke while he was travelling on the Humber Bridge, causing a collision and fall. His crash helmet came off during the incident, and he sustained severe head and facial injuries. The principal concerns were the lack of understanding of why motorcycle helmets come off or rotate during collisions and the absence of clear checks or education concerning helmet sizing and fitting.

Read the report on judiciary.uk
Source evidence
How this individual concern was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below. The report was sent to TRL Limited; that does not assign responsibility.
PFD Monitor interpretation
Failure to ensure correct motorcycle helmet sizing and fitting
Wider context from the report
“(1) This is the second matter that has been referred to my jurisdiction in recent months where a motorcyclist has lost his helmet during a collision. During evidence it was adduced that, although it is not a common occurrence, it is certainly not unusual for a motorcyclist’s helmet to come off or to rotate during a collision. (2) The Forensic Collision Investigator was unable to explain the reason for Dr Hooker’s crash helmet coming off. The chin strap was in place. (3) The Forensic Collision Investigator indicated that she had been unable to find any research or scientific data on why such incidents occur. (4) It was adduced in evidence that a kit safety mark may be checked by an instructor during motor cycle courses/tests but there did not appear to be a known check for ensuring a person has the correct size motorcycle helmet. (5) It was acknowledged that many people may now purchase motorcycle helmets over the internet and the sizing and fitting may not be appropriate. (6) I am concerned that without knowledge of why such incidents are occurring, or appropriate education of the riders, that more deaths may occur. ”
Open source report
Source evidence
How this individual concern was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below. The report was sent to TRL Limited; that does not assign responsibility.
PFD Monitor interpretation
Motorcycle helmets coming off or rotating during collisions
Wider context from the report
“(1) This is the second matter that has been referred to my jurisdiction in recent months where a motorcyclist has lost his helmet during a collision. During evidence it was adduced that, although it is not a common occurrence, it is certainly not unusual for a motorcyclist’s helmet to come off or to rotate during a collision. (2) The Forensic Collision Investigator was unable to explain the reason for Dr Hooker’s crash helmet coming off. The chin strap was in place. (3) The Forensic Collision Investigator indicated that she had been unable to find any research or scientific data on why such incidents occur. (4) It was adduced in evidence that a kit safety mark may be checked by an instructor during motor cycle courses/tests but there did not appear to be a known check for ensuring a person has the correct size motorcycle helmet. (5) It was acknowledged that many people may now purchase motorcycle helmets over the internet and the sizing and fitting may not be appropriate. (6) I am concerned that without knowledge of why such incidents are occurring, or appropriate education of the riders, that more deaths may occur. ”
Open source report
Source evidence
How this individual concern was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below. The report was sent to TRL Limited; that does not assign responsibility.
PFD Monitor interpretation
Lack of appropriate education for motorcycle riders
Wider context from the report
“(1) This is the second matter that has been referred to my jurisdiction in recent months where a motorcyclist has lost his helmet during a collision. During evidence it was adduced that, although it is not a common occurrence, it is certainly not unusual for a motorcyclist’s helmet to come off or to rotate during a collision. (2) The Forensic Collision Investigator was unable to explain the reason for Dr Hooker’s crash helmet coming off. The chin strap was in place. (3) The Forensic Collision Investigator indicated that she had been unable to find any research or scientific data on why such incidents occur. (4) It was adduced in evidence that a kit safety mark may be checked by an instructor during motor cycle courses/tests but there did not appear to be a known check for ensuring a person has the correct size motorcycle helmet. (5) It was acknowledged that many people may now purchase motorcycle helmets over the internet and the sizing and fitting may not be appropriate. (6) I am concerned that without knowledge of why such incidents are occurring, or appropriate education of the riders, that more deaths may occur. ”
Open source report
Source evidence
How this individual concern was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below. The report was sent to TRL Limited; that does not assign responsibility.
PFD Monitor interpretation
Lack of research and knowledge about motorcycle helmet displacement during collisions
Wider context from the report
“(1) This is the second matter that has been referred to my jurisdiction in recent months where a motorcyclist has lost his helmet during a collision. During evidence it was adduced that, although it is not a common occurrence, it is certainly not unusual for a motorcyclist’s helmet to come off or to rotate during a collision. (2) The Forensic Collision Investigator was unable to explain the reason for Dr Hooker’s crash helmet coming off. The chin strap was in place. (3) The Forensic Collision Investigator indicated that she had been unable to find any research or scientific data on why such incidents occur. (4) It was adduced in evidence that a kit safety mark may be checked by an instructor during motor cycle courses/tests but there did not appear to be a known check for ensuring a person has the correct size motorcycle helmet. (5) It was acknowledged that many people may now purchase motorcycle helmets over the internet and the sizing and fitting may not be appropriate. (6) I am concerned that without knowledge of why such incidents are occurring, or appropriate education of the riders, that more deaths may occur. ”
Open source report
Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation
Conduct research into motorcycle-helmet loss, including retention testing, helmet design compliance and loss mechanisms.

Verbatim wording from the response
“In 2018, TRL has conducted our own research into helmet loss, or more specifically our “Helmet Retention Report” (https://www.trl.co.uk/publications/helmet-retention-report). This self-funded study had two specific aims. The first”

Source location
Response from the Future of Transport
Page 1 · response
Published 4 January 2023
Open published response
17 Apr2014
West Yorkshire (Western)
Concerns raised2
1. Lack of forward restraint or equivalent impact protection at passenger seats on narrow scheduled service buses
2. Type-approval failing to give sufficient weight to the risk of death or serious injury
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.

No linked response statements
No action or position from this recipient is clearly linked to the concerns in this report.
AI-generated summary

Muriel Dawson · Prevention of Future Deaths report

This summary was generated using AI from the published report. Please read the original report for the complete account.

Report summary

Muriel Dawson, aged 90, died shortly after being thrown forward from her unrestrained aisle seat when a public service bus braked suddenly. She suffered a complete fracture of the lumbar vertebrae and associated trauma. The principal concern was that the vehicle’s design and type-approval gave insufficient weight to the risk of death or serious injury to passengers, particularly because seats lacked restraints and a possible restraining feature was absent.

Read the report on judiciary.uk
Source evidence
How this individual concern was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below. The report was sent to TRL Limited; that does not assign responsibility.
PFD Monitor interpretation
Lack of forward restraint or equivalent impact protection at passenger seats on narrow scheduled service buses
Wider context from the report
“(1) My findings were, as summarised in the narrative conclusion, that Muriel Dawson was travelling on an Optare “hopper” type scheduled service bus (narrow model) and the evidence to the Coroner’s court indicated that the profile of passengers on such a vehicle would overwhelmingly be elderly. The evidence given was to the effect that the design of the vehicle provides a compromise between safety and convenience as it allows for standing passengers, seated passengers and provision for a wheelchair. The design is such that the seat in which Mrs. Dawson was seated at the time of the incident has no form of restraint should there be a violent forward motion exerted on passengers, eg. by an emergency stop. The seat position (viewed from the front facing back) is on the right hand side and is in the third row. It is the aisle seat of the first double seats, the two rows in front being single seats on that side. (2) It is understood that these vehicles are type-approved and the operator has not made modifications to them and thus the original design and approval of the vehicle is universally match which is in regular use. Seat belts are not required to be fitted to any seats. (3) The evidence to the inquest was that this vehicle had to stop suddenly; the brakes were correctly applied, but there was nothing to prevent Mrs. Dawson being thrown forward and she lost her life as a result of hitting the front panel of the bus having slid the remaining length of the vehicle. Her death was due to the impact with the vehicle fracturing her spine. (4) It appeared from evidence that, still consistent with convenience, disabled access and gangway width, a floor to ceiling pole with horizontal bar, or some similar restraining construction could have been applied to the area immediately in front of her seat. (5) It is appreciated that the backs of seats, bars and similar elements of the interior of a vehicle can cause injury in the event of a sudden stop, but I considered, based on the evidence given, that some similar design feature of the vehicle as mentioned in (4) above could, and probably would, have prevented Mrs. Dawson being thrown forward for such distance and with such momentum as to cause her death. (6) It appears from the evidence, albeit indirectly reported to the Coroner at the inquest, that other operators have expressed concerns with the current design, but feel there is nothing they can do in a type-approved vehicle. I am concerned that the type-approval has given insufficient weight to the risk of death or serious injury. ”
Open source report
Source evidence
How this individual concern was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below. The report was sent to TRL Limited; that does not assign responsibility.
PFD Monitor interpretation
Type-approval failing to give sufficient weight to the risk of death or serious injury
Wider context from the report
“(1) My findings were, as summarised in the narrative conclusion, that Muriel Dawson was travelling on an Optare “hopper” type scheduled service bus (narrow model) and the evidence to the Coroner’s court indicated that the profile of passengers on such a vehicle would overwhelmingly be elderly. The evidence given was to the effect that the design of the vehicle provides a compromise between safety and convenience as it allows for standing passengers, seated passengers and provision for a wheelchair. The design is such that the seat in which Mrs. Dawson was seated at the time of the incident has no form of restraint should there be a violent forward motion exerted on passengers, eg. by an emergency stop. The seat position (viewed from the front facing back) is on the right hand side and is in the third row. It is the aisle seat of the first double seats, the two rows in front being single seats on that side. (2) It is understood that these vehicles are type-approved and the operator has not made modifications to them and thus the original design and approval of the vehicle is universally match which is in regular use. Seat belts are not required to be fitted to any seats. (3) The evidence to the inquest was that this vehicle had to stop suddenly; the brakes were correctly applied, but there was nothing to prevent Mrs. Dawson being thrown forward and she lost her life as a result of hitting the front panel of the bus having slid the remaining length of the vehicle. Her death was due to the impact with the vehicle fracturing her spine. (4) It appeared from evidence that, still consistent with convenience, disabled access and gangway width, a floor to ceiling pole with horizontal bar, or some similar restraining construction could have been applied to the area immediately in front of her seat. (5) It is appreciated that the backs of seats, bars and similar elements of the interior of a vehicle can cause injury in the event of a sudden stop, but I considered, based on the evidence given, that some similar design feature of the vehicle as mentioned in (4) above could, and probably would, have prevented Mrs. Dawson being thrown forward for such distance and with such momentum as to cause her death. (6) It appears from the evidence, albeit indirectly reported to the Coroner at the inquest, that other operators have expressed concerns with the current design, but feel there is nothing they can do in a type-approved vehicle. I am concerned that the type-approval has given insufficient weight to the risk of death or serious injury. ”
Open source report

Information checked against published PFD reports and official responses · Data reviewed 7 Sep 2026 · About data quality and limitations

Data last updated 7 September 2026

Reports, concerns and published responses

Reports over time

Concerns raised4

Failure to ensure correct motorcycle helmet sizing and fitting

Motorcycle helmets coming off or rotating during collisions

Lack of appropriate education for motorcycle riders

Lack of research and knowledge about motorcycle helmet displacement during collisions

Actions described in response An action is something this recipient says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.1

Concerns raised2

Lack of forward restraint or equivalent impact protection at passenger seats on narrow scheduled service buses

Type-approval failing to give sufficient weight to the risk of death or serious injury

Actions described in response 1