Wednesday, December 24, 2008

What is DOT Motorcycle Helmet Certification?

By Frank Medley

When you're buying a helmet, it can be difficult to decide what helmet will give you the best protection for your money. One key to finding a safe helmet is to buy a helmet with DOT certification.

You can tell you have DOT motorcycle helmet certification by whether it has the small certification sticker on the back. This is what indicates to you that the helmet will protect you in a crash, so if it's not there, don't get that helmet.

DOT stands for the United States Department of Transportation. This is a government body that helps to research and propose laws and regulations related to transportation, including helmet safety standards.

What standards must be met to attain DOT motorcycle helmet certification? First, a helmet must absorb most of the force on impact. It must also prevent most objects from penetrating it, and it must fasten in a way that can withstand a large amount 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.

Make sure you know exactly what the DOT sticker looks like before you begin to shop. Some companies will use fake DOT stickers in order to convince you to buy their helmets, which are often unsafe.

When you're ready to buy a new helmet, only buy one with DOT motorcycle helmet certification. These helmets are guaranteed to meet certain safety standards, and will be best able to protect you in an accident.

About the Author:

No comments: