Hat cam ban leads to new 'safer' designs

While riders await news on further research into the safety of hat cameras, several manufacturers are already trying to find alternatives.

British Eventing (BE) announced a blanket ban on all rider cameras in October due to a lack of information about their potential danger in a fall.

The decision came after a French journalist said that he believed that the injuries sustained by Formula One driver Michael Schumacher in a skiing accident had been worsened by his GoPro.

The ban created a snowball reaction and British Showjumping and other events quickly followed suit.

But the decision angered many riders who see the technology as a vital way of modernising the sport.

Amateur rider Jean-Marc Piednoir believes he has already developed a product which negates any safety concerns — Cambox ISIS.

The new design, which fits under the peak of a hat, weighs only 38g and has two arms designed to take the impact during the fall.

“After a year of tests I designed a product which I consider covers the safety aspect and caters for the riders’ needs,” said Mr Piednoir.

Eventer Joseph Murphy has been riding with the new camera since Badminton.

“I wasn’t surprised by the ban as some of the cameras were so big that it was just a matter of time,” he told H&H.

“The first thing that drew me to this product is how discreet it is. A lot of people don’t even know that I have it on.”

On the racecourse the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) currently does not approve any make of helmet camera.

Channel 4 Racing has used head cameras in the past and told H&H that they are also working with a company to develop new technology that will be approved by the BHA, but that further details are not available at this stage.

This news story was originally published on Thursday 20 November, 2014