Friday, December 26, 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.

The United States Department of Transportation, otherwise known as the DOT, is a government agency that tries to keep you safe on the road, through regulations and safety standards.

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.

Who does the testing to make sure that a helmet meets DOT motorcycle helmet certification standards? The manufacturer themselves test their helmets, and are allowed to attach the sticker should it pass each test.

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.

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.

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. - 16887

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