Friday, December 26, 2008

DOT Motorcycle Helmet Certification is Important

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.

DOT motorcycle helmet certification is demonstrated through affixing a sticker to the back of any new helmet. If you find a cool looking helmet, but it doesn't have the certification, it might not protect you in a crash, so don't buy it.

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 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.

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.

But what if the manufacturer isn't truthful? The DOT also tests helmets at independent labs periodically, and those results are posted on their website, which you can find in an internet search.

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.

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