Breaking news: BE ban hat cameras due to safety concerns
British Eventing (BE) has announced that it has banned all helmet cameras as a precautionary measure until further research is completed on their safety.
Safety concerns about wearing hat cameras have been in the news this week after a French journalist suggested a GoPro could have been a factor in Michael Schumacher’s condition.
Jean-Louis Moncet has subsequently said that this was only his “opinion”.
However, other industry professionals have told H&H that they are worried that certain cameras could potentially put riders at risk of serious head injuries.
Hat cameras have become increasingly popular with event riders and BE introduced a regulation in 2013 stating that all competitors must seek permission to wear one.
A British Eventing spokesman told H&H: “As a precautionary measure, pending the completion of an independent expert report on the safety of helmet cameras, the wearing of helmet cameras at all BE affiliated events has been prohibited with immediate effect.
“Therefore, permissions previously given by or on behalf of the chief executive to wear a head camera are withdrawn.
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“Safety of horses and rider is a top priority for British Eventing and the safety committee have engaged the Transport Research Laboratory (TRL) to conduct further research.
“Further details of this extremely important research will be announced in due course.”
For a full report into the safety factors influencing the use of hat cameras don’t miss next week’s Horse & Hound (Thursday, 30 October).
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Sophia Heath joined Horse & Hound in July 2013 having previously worked for the Daily Telegraph's Olympics website, CNN International and Omnisport. A Durham graduate with a Masters in journalism from City University, Sophia has evented, showjumped and hunted. Sophia left Horse & Hound in early 2015 to join an international boating website.