To help protect the lives of motorcyclists, the US Department of Transportation (DOT) requires that all motorcycle helmets sold in the United States meet Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 218. This standard defines minimum levels of performance that a helmet must meet in order to be sold in the US.
There are a number of things that you can check for (as defined by the DOT) to make sure that your helmet is acceptable:
- Thick inner liner: helmets that meet the DOT's standards have an inner lining that is usually one-inch thick. Unsafe helmets contain soft foam padding or no padding at all.
- Chin Strap Rivets: Helmets must have secure chin straps and rivets to properly keep the protective gear in place.
- Weight of Helmet: The proper weight of a helmet is approximately three pounds (dependent upon design and size).
- Design/Style: The DOT's standard states that no piece of the helmet can extend further than two-tenths of an inch from the surface of the helmet.
Helmets that meet FMVSS 218 should display an authentic sticker with the letters "DOT". This sticker certifies that the helmet meets or exceeds the DOT's safety standard. For more about motorcycle helmet safety, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) offers detailed information on their website at www.nhtsa.com.
If you or a loved one have been injured in a motorcycle accident please call us at 1.800.966.4999 or fill out the form to the right of the page for a free case evaluation.
