What the tags actually do
When a compatible phone taps the tag, or a camera scans the QR code, the phone opens the linked RiderSOS page. That page can show emergency details, contact guidance, or next steps depending on the product and profile attached.
The aim is practical access, not clutter. A responder or finder gets the information they need quickly, without needing to install anything first.
Every RiderSOS tag is tied to a unique RDR number rather than to a generic template. That number is what links a specific physical tag to a specific rider's profile, so two riders with the same helmet tag model each open their own page, not a shared or generic one.
NFC and QR: two ways in, one destination
NFC (Near Field Communication) is the same short-range wireless technology used for contactless payments. A small chip embedded in the tag broadcasts a link when a compatible phone is held close, usually within a centimetre or two, and the phone's operating system prompts the user to open it.
QR codes work differently: the phone's camera reads a printed pattern and decodes the same underlying link. RiderSOS tags carry both where the product allows it, because phone NFC support and default settings vary between models, and a printed QR code needs no wireless hardware at all, only a working camera.
Both paths lead to the same destination: the RiderSOS page tied to that tag's RDR number. Neither requires the finder to have a RiderSOS account, log in, or install anything first.
Helmet tag, key tag and emergency card
The helmet tag is designed to stay with the helmet you ride in. The key tag gives another access point on the keys you are most likely carrying. The emergency card gives you a wallet or jacket-pocket backup.
Used together, they give multiple points of access around the rider rather than relying on a single item being found first.
- Helmet tag: mounted where it stays with your riding helmet.
- Key tag: attached to your everyday rider keys.
- Emergency card: kept in a wallet, jacket, or bike document pouch.
What someone sees after scanning
The linked RiderSOS page is designed to be simple and mobile-friendly. Depending on your setup, it can show emergency contacts, medical notes you choose to share, and clear instructions for what to do next.
What actually appears is controlled field by field in your profile settings, not all-or-nothing. You choose whether to display your name, date of birth, allergies, medications, existing conditions, and any specific instructions, plus whether your emergency contacts are shown. Leaving a field switched off simply means it never appears on the scanned page, for anyone.
RiderSOS is built to support emergency access and secure contact. It does not replace emergency services, and it does not guarantee a specific outcome.
How your information is protected
Medical details you choose to share, such as blood type, allergies, medications, and conditions, are stored encrypted rather than as plain text in the database. The scanned page only ever reflects the fields you have explicitly switched on.
This matters because a helmet or set of keys can end up in someone else's hands well before an emergency, at a petrol station, in lost property, or handed over by a passer-by. Keeping the shown fields deliberately narrow, and encrypting the rest, limits what a scan can reveal beyond what you intended.
A typical scan, step by step
In practice, a scan usually plays out the same way regardless of which product is found. Someone locates the tag, either on a helmet, a keyring, or inside a wallet, and either taps it with their phone or points a camera at the printed QR code.
The phone opens a mobile-friendly page in the browser, no app store detour required. If the rider has switched on emergency contacts, the page makes it clear who to call and how. If medical notes are switched on, they appear in plain, readable text rather than medical shorthand.
The page also carries a clear reminder that RiderSOS supports contact and information sharing, but is not a substitute for calling 999 in a genuine emergency.
No app needed for access
That matters because in a real roadside situation, the process needs to be obvious. Most modern phones can read NFC tags or scan QR codes straight from the camera or built-in system tools.
Riders set the profile up once, then the tag simply points to the right information when it is tapped or scanned.
Keeping the setup useful over time
A RiderSOS tag is only as useful as the profile behind it. Emergency contacts change numbers, medications change, and riders move between bikes and gear. Because the tag simply points to your account rather than storing a fixed snapshot, updating your profile updates what every linked tag shows immediately, with nothing to reprint or reorder.
It is worth building a quick habit of checking your profile whenever something in your circumstances changes, and periodically testing a scan yourself to confirm the page still looks the way you expect.
Common questions about how tags work
Does the finder need a RiderSOS account? No. Only the rider needs an account to set up and manage a profile. Anyone who taps or scans a tag simply views the page the rider has chosen to show.
What if a phone doesn't support NFC, or NFC is switched off? The QR code on the same product opens the identical page using only the camera, which is why RiderSOS products carry both access methods where the product allows it.
What happens if a tag is lost or a product is replaced? The RDR number is what links a physical tag to a profile, so a lost or damaged tag can be deactivated and a replacement linked to the same account without losing any saved profile details.