Abstract: An occupant helmet protection system usable with an occupant helmet and a seat belt system, the seat belt system of the type including at least a first and a second shoulder belt, each of which when worn is positioned to lie across a respective shoulder of an occupant, the helmet occupant protection system including an energy absorbing, flexible tether having a first end operatively connected to the helmet in alignment with an effective center of gravity of the combined helmet and the occupant's head, the tether including a second end connected to a tether anchor point; a frame member loosely supported about the shoulders of the occupant and including a center or tower portion, the center or tower portion having a tether guide means for changing the direction of the tether and providing a low friction surface for the tether, the tether guide means located in alignment with or slightly above a first plane, which passes through the effective center of gravity of the head-helmet combination and the tether-h