When you’re buying a helmet, it can be difficult to decide what helmet will give you the best protection for your money. Your head is the most important part of the body when it comes to protecting yourself on the road while riding. It doesn t take much to split the skull or to impair the brain. At the very least a helmet will make the difference in low speed and low impact crashes. It is truly worth learning more about. One key to finding a safe helmet is to buy a helmet with DOT certification.
DOT motorcycle helmet certification is indicated through a sticker, located on the back of the helmet. If the helmet that you’re interested in doesn’t have this sticker, don’t buy it. If you really wanted to you could buy it, but you are essentially playing with your own life. You have no idea if it will protect you in a crash. In fact chances are if it isn t at a very minimum DOT certified, it will not protect you at all.
The DOT is the United States Department of Transportation. It is the body designated by the US Government to make sure that all vehicles are as safe as possible, and that all riders and passengers are safe within them. This is why their is a mandate requiring the wearing of seat belts in automotive vehicles and the wearing of helmets on motorcycles. This is a federal mandate, and depending on the state laws wearing a motorcycle helmet may or may not be required. It is however always a good idea, regardless of which state you live in and their helmet law.
What are the DOT motorcycle helmet certification standards? They require that a helmet which is deemed safe be able to absorb a large amount of energy upon impact, to prevent most helmet penetration, and have a fastener which can withstand a lot of force.
How does DOT motorcycle helmet testing work? It’s actually the manufacturer’s job to test the helmet. If they find that their helmet passes these standards, they can affix the sticker to the helmet.
You’re probably thinking about what happens if a manufacturer fudges the results a little. Periodically, the DOT will send helmets to independent labs for testing, and posts the results on their website. This type of periodic testing happens randomly and for lack of better words, keeps the helmet manufacturers honest. The last thing that the Department of Transportation wants are manufacturers of helmets lowering the quality and safety standards and then slapping a DOT sticker on a helmet. It is the random testing that ensures the quality and safety of the helmet.
Before you buy, make sure to familiarize yourself with what the real DOT sticker looks like online. Some unscrupulous manufacturers will attach false stickers to their helmets in order to trick you into buying.
DOT motorcycle helmet certification is an important safety tool for riders. This is a way to ensure that your helmet meets minimum safety standards, and will be able to protect you in a crash. So before you rush out and get a helmet, make sure it is at least DOT certified! This will raise the odds significantly in your favor for walking away from a wreck if you ever have one.
Until then, ride safe! |
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