Motorcycle helmets have come a long way since the first motorized vehicle was invented. In fact, they have become more important than ever, not only for safety but for their aesthetic appeal. They also protect the brain from injury in case of an accident.
If you ride a motorcycle, you need to be sure you’re wearing a helmet. It is the law in all 50 states, and it’s the best way to protect yourself from a serious head injury. But even though helmets are a necessity, not everyone wears one. Some people think they look silly or don’t want to wear a helmet because they think it’s uncomfortable or because they don’t feel it will do much good.
You must have seen a sticker on the helmet, it is a sticker that shows the safety rating.
Here is the list of safety rating stickers:
Table of Contents
DOT
Standards are set by the United States Department of Transportation. The current DOT rating is FMVSS 218 federal standard and any helmet with the DOT label should fulfill special criteria.
The DOT is not a federal agency and they do not test helmets directly. Instead, they hold the helmet manufacturers responsible for testing their own products and refining them to meet the set standards. Aspects like helmet retention, a field of vision, and penetration resistance are scrutinized.
The DOT is the most basic of the main three, but it is the one that provides the lowest protection. The DOT rating does not account for impact energy absorption or energy transfer which is why the other two ratings are more important.
In recent years, the helmet industry has taken steps to make its products safer. While some DOT-rated helmets are safer than others, it is still important to test your helmet to ensure that it meets the DOT requirements.
ECE
The Economic Commission for Europe’s standards. Over 30 European nations use this transnational standard.
While the United States requires that all helmets worn on the road have a DOT rating, many European countries require that all helmets have an ECE rating. The European Commission, or ECE, is a group of mostly European countries that have come together to develop testing and certification standards for motorcycle helmets. It’s a bit of a confusing term, but essentially ECE stands for Economic Commission for Europe and it’s the group of European countries that have joined together to create a helmet standard for the continent.
In the course of a single year, thousands of people are killed in motorcycle accidents. It is estimated that half of those deaths could be prevented if helmets were worn. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the annual number of deaths due to motorcycle accidents is currently close to 40,000, with approximately 6,000 of those deaths being fatal.
SNELL
The Snell Memorial Foundation establishes the Snell standards. Only a few race organizations need this optional testing technique. For street usage, the current standard is SNELL M2020.
The Snell Foundation is a nonprofit organization that creates standards for helmets for vehicular activities including motorcycling. My colleagues Jim and Cameron went to the Snell Foundation’s headquarters last year to see exactly how the professionals there do their testing and create the standards that have a major impact on the motorcycle industry and the racing industry.
The Snell Foundation’s mission is dedicated to the research, education, testing, and development of helmet safety standards. It’s been an important force in the helmet industry since its founding in 1957. Our standards are the most comprehensive and rigorous in the world. We’re also a nonprofit organization and don’t make any money from our work.
The Snell standard is a widely recognized and respected industry standard. It has been a standard for more than 100 years and is currently being updated. It is updated every five years. The Snell standard is an important and widely used standard for motorcycle helmets. It is recognized by the Consumer Product Safety Commission, which sets the standard for the U.S.
The Snell standard is the most commonly used motorcycle helmet standard in the world. It is the standard that is used by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), the World Health Organization (WHO), and many other countries. The standard was developed to be as universal as possible, but the biggest drawback to the Snell standard is that it is a one size fits all standard.
FIM
FIM is an international motorcycle racing organization that sets safety standards for all types of motorcycles, including those used on race tracks. FIM is responsible for the safety standards for motorcycles and race tracks and provides a rating system for each type of motorcycle.
The first thing that comes to mind when we think of helmets is that they are designed to protect our heads from injury. While this is true, they are also designed to prevent brain damage in the event of a head injury. This is done by providing a cushion between the head and the ground. This cushion is the EPS foam liner and it is the most important part of the helmet.
There are a number of different organizations that certify helmets and the most well-known is the Snell Memorial Foundation, which was founded in 1922. The foundation is based in the US but is also recognized by the European Union and the UK. The Snell Memorial Foundation has been around for more than 80 years and is one of the oldest and most trusted safety organizations.
Making a Difference
In the last decade, motorcycles have become the fastest-growing segment of the U.S. auto market. They are also the most dangerous. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, motorcyclists are responsible for 25% of all traffic deaths and 50% of all fatal crashes involving passenger vehicles. This is why it is so important to wear a helmet.
Safety is paramount. But just because it’s the most important thing, it’s not the only thing. There are many things that contribute to a rider’s safety, including the material and design of the helmet, the fit of the helmet, the size of the rider’s head, the type of bike, and the style of riding.
It is important to remember that all helmets are not created equal. Some helmets are better than others, but it’s important to understand the difference. If you are a novice cyclist, you may want to consider buying a cheap, low-quality helmet, but if you are an advanced rider, you can get more out of a higher-end helmet.
The Helmet Safety Routine
Each helmet safety standard has its own set of tests, methods, and requirements. Let’s take a deeper look at each helmet safety system.
FMVSS 218 (Department of Transportation)
The DOT safety standard for motorcycle helmets is an excellent example of a very thorough testing protocol. The DOT has set very strict guidelines for how a helmet should perform in an accident. The testing procedure is very rigorous, and it’s actually quite difficult to pass. This is why we see such a high rate of compliance.
The testing of FMVSS 218 is a bit of a mess. For starters, it’s not even a standard. It was created in 1993 by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The purpose of the standard is to provide a list of tests and procedures for evaluating motorcycle helmets. However, the standard is not required by law.
ECE22.05
The ECE 22.05 standard is much younger than the DOT standard. It provides a more extensive battery of tests than its American counterpart does. ECE standards check safety elements that can help prevent an accident from occurring. Such as the visual quality of face shields, as well as other safety aspects like shell stiffness.
The DOT’s standards are based on the worst-case scenario in terms of a motorcycle crash. However, in Europe, it’s common for riders to be wearing helmets that are not ECE approved. The average motorcycle’s collision speed in Europe is much lower than in the United States. It’s because of the considerable impact on the design of ECE impact testing.
The ECE standard is a great thing, and it’s great that it exists to ensure the safety of those who ride motorbikes. However, it can be manipulated, and that is why I believe it’s important to be aware of it. We have seen many helmets that have been tested to fail the ECE standard, but when it comes to the ECE standard, there is no such thing as a safety helmet.
Final Words
The modern motorcycle helmet is a combination of science and art. A properly fitted motorcycle helmet can reduce the risk of serious brain injury by up to 95%. In fact, the best helmet for you depends on where you ride, how fast you ride, and where you intend to ride. We are going to help you choose the right helmet that fits your needs and lifestyle and that passes any of the above-stated safety ratings.
