As smart riders know, gearing up means staying safe. However, your motorcycle helmet is the most critical piece of your riding apparel collection. Statistics cited by CDC reveal that helmets decrease your risk of dying in a crash by 37% and the probability of head injuries by 69%. You’ve probably seen the little DOT stickers on motorcycle helmets, but what do they mean? Understanding motorcycle helmet safety ratings is important when you’re helmet shopping, so take a look at this helpful guide about DOT safety ratings.
DOT, ECE and Snell Certifications
Three major organizations issue safety ratings on motorcycle helmets. The DOT, or Department of Transportation, is the U.S. government agency that handles all transportation safety issues. ECE stands for Economic Commission for Europe, a United Nations governing body that sets standards for trade and commerce, including product safety regulations. The Snell Memorial Foundation is an independent nonprofit organization dedicated to helmet safety research, testing and defining standards.
DOT certified helmets must meet the minimum safety requirements detailed in FMVSS 218. The Economic Commission for Europe details its standards in ECE 22.05. The Snell Foundation issues its M-95 and M2000 certifications, and its standards are stricter than government certifications. You may also see BSI 6658-85 Type A, issued by the British Standards Institution, and its certification involves additional chin strap retention, abrasion and slippage testing.
How DOT Certification Works
Because each certification body sets unique standards, it also specifies helmet testing procedures. DOT certification requires three types of tests. Impact testing measures speed and g-forces when a helmet is dropped onto different types of surfaces. Penetration testing confirms that the head isn’t impacted, while retention tests verify whether a helmet stays secured to the head during impact. Each of these tests must be performed twice by the manufacturer. After May 2013, DOT stickers must contain several pieces of information:
- The helmet model name or number
- The letters “DOT”
- The FMVASS 218 designation
- The word “Certified” at the bottom
Look for the Stickers
Tested helmets that pass U.S. Department of Transportation standards are issued DOT stickers. DOT stickers appear on all classes of helmets made for sport, cruiser, dirt, ATV and UTV riding. Whether you’re shopping for dirt bike or cruiser full face helmets, those DOT stickers mean that the helmets are road-legal. You’ll commonly see multiple certification stickers on helmets: for instance, DOT and ECE.
Wait, a minute. Aren’t all motorcycle helmets supposed to be road-legal? Well, “supposed to” and “is” are two different things. In an ideal world, all helmets offer dependable crash protection. But you may sometimes encounter “novelty” helmets, which are really only good for Halloween costumes. So if you don’t see a DOT sticker, give that helmet a hard pass and keep on shopping.
Choose a Reputable Dealer
Getting the highest level of protection means selecting the best helmet for your riding style and conditions. With new technologies for comfort, safety and convenience, you have many options including cruiser helmets with Bluetooth capability, advanced venting systems and tool-less shield replacement. Now that you understand helmet safety standards, your best bet is to shop at a reputable powersports dealer that only stocks safety-certified helmets.
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