I own a motorcycle and having a hlmet is one of the most essential safety gear a rider could have. So the question is does you helmets meet the DOT standards? The information was provided by NHTSA’s Safety Countermeasures Division and compiled by the Licensing Depart-ment of the Motorcycle Safety Foundation.

Motorcycle Safety Helmets

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) issued Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 218, Motorcycle Helmets, on August 20, 1973. The standard went into effect on March 1, 1974, and was most recently amended on October 3, 1988.

All motorcycle helmets sold in the United States are required by law to meet or exceed the minimum performance requirements established by FMVSS 218. These requirements include minimum impact and penetration capabilities, chin strap retention qualities, and a 210-degree field of view, along with a number of labeling requirements. To certify that their helmets meet all the requirements of FMVSS 218, a manufacturer places the letters “DOT” on the back of each helmet. This lettering is often referred to as a “DOT label” or “DOT sticker.” If a manufacturer sells a helmet certified as meeting the FMVSS standard and NHTSA discovers the helmet does not, NHTSA conducts an investigation that can result in the manufacturer’s having to recall the helmets in question. Recently, the manufacture and sale of costume or novelty helmets has dramatically increased. These helmets, if not sold as motorcycle helmets, are not required to meet FMVSS 218. If the manufacturer does not place a DOT sticker on the back of the helmet, they are not certifying that the product meets FMVSS 218, and they do not claim that it offers any protection at all to the wearer. A problem arises with a novelty helmet when its manufacturer or distributor encloses or offers a DOT label separately for the consumer to place on the back of the helmet. Reputable manufacturers place the DOT sticker on their helmets before shipping them to distributors.

Most state helmet use laws require motorcyclists to wear helmets that meet FMVSS 218. NHTSA has developed a training videotape and an informational brochure to assist law enforcement personnel in identifying helmets that do not meet this national standard. For copies of the video and brochure, call NHTSA at (202) 366-1739.

FMVSS 218 Requirements

A DOT label must be affixed to the center, lower back of each approved helmet.

FMVSS 218 also requires the manufacturer to sew into the helmet liner a label or labels that can be easily read without removing padding or any permanent part. This label must include following information:

1. Manufacturer’s name or identification
2. Precise model designation
3. Size
4. Month and year of manufacture, which can be spelled out (June 1988) or expressed in numerals (6/88).
5. Instructions to the purchaser as follows:
6. “Shell and liner constructed of (types of materials spelled out).”
7. “Helmet can be seriously damaged by some common substances without damage being visible to the user. Apply only the following: (recommended cleaning agents, paints, adhesives).”
8. “Make no modifications. Fasten helmet securely. If the helmet experiences a severe blow, return it to the manufacturer for inspection or destroy it and replace it.”
9. A helmet must have an inner liner, about one-inch thick and made of polystyrene (styrofoam).
10. The chin strap must be strong and well-attached.
11. There can be no attachments or protrusions over two-tenths of an inch long.

Indicators Of An Illegal Helmet

The following is a list of items, in lay terms, that are indicators of illegal helmets.

If there are protrusions from the helmet such as the old German style with a spike on the top (World War I vintage), it will not meet the FMVSS standard. (Caution: Some helmets styled like World War II German helmets are legal. Some very reputable manufacturers produce them to meet FMVSS.)

If the helmet consists of a beanie that covers only the very top of the rider’s head, it probably doesn’t meet the standard.

If the helmet has a web liner, no padding, or padding only, or a thin shell of less than one inch of styrofoam on the inside, it likely will not meet FMVSS 218.

Fake helmets usually weigh less than one pound, whereas legal helmets usually weigh more than three pounds.

If the strap is less than one-half inch wide, or with a single strap attached to the helmet, it probably doesn’t meet the federal standard.

If the strap is poorly attached with small rivets, it probably doesn’t meet the standard.

If a DOT label is on the lower back of the helmet, but you suspect it really does not meet FMVSS 218, inspect the inside of the helmet to see if the manufacturer has complied with the labeling requirements previously described. If all labeling requirements are not met, the helmet does not meet FMVSS requirements.

Helmets may have labels from the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) or the Snell Memorial Foundation, which has somewhat different requirements. However, the DOT standard is the only one the helmet is required by law to meet.

This information was provided by NHTSA’s Safety Countermeasures Division and compiled by the Licensing Depart-ment of the Motorcycle Safety Foundation.

So for all the motorcycle riders out there like me, please read this article and time to think about your safety on the road.