4 Can I wear a camera or bluetooth unit on my helmet?
Neither AS1698 or UNECE 22.05 have been updated to specify accessory attachment methods. It is not legal to modify a helmet shell to fit an attachment such as drilling holes. but if it is clamped or stuck on with the provided attachments, it should be ok. The position in Victoria is still in doubt.
NSW and Victorian police improperly interpreted the AS1698 specification to determine accessories were illegal on the basis they were rigid external projections protruding more than 5mm beyond the helmet shell. NSW police have been instructed by the Police Commissioner to stop issuing infringement notices for accessories.
A recent helmet camera fine was dismissed in Victoria, but only on the grounds that the laws were too difficult for the public to access, not on the applicable laws. If the Victorian laws become more readily available, there could be concerns for riders in Victoria. Some NSW and Victorian police may still improperly interpret any change to a helmet as making it non-compliant. The argument that compliance only applies at the point of sale has still not been proved.
The ACT government has ratified the legality of helmet cameras and Bluetooth units, while States such as Queensland and Western Australia do not see it as an issue. Meanwhile, bike cops in all states have cameras and Bluetooth units attached to their helmets.