The US Department of Transportation DOT motorcycle helmets information.
The US Department of Transportation (DOT), National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in 1972, announced they were going to develop a standard for DOT motorcycle helmets. The Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 218 (FMVSS 218), which is commonly referred to as the DOT helmet standard. This includes the DOT motorcycle helmets.
In 1974 motorcycle helmets were required to meet the DOT motorcycle helmets standard. The helmets must pass a test to receive a DOT approval. There been minor changes over the past 30 years to the original DOT standard. The national Highway traffic safety administration has a study to evaluate and consider changes to the (FMVSS 218) standard.
The way you can tell if the DOT motorcycle helmets are approved there will be a sticker on the rear of the helmet that reads “DOT”
DOT certification, however, is less regulated. The manufacturer performs their own tests and determines whether their helmets are DOT approved. The manufacturer doesn't have to report
their findings, the government does occasionally conduct limited tests or spot checks. Nevertheless, allowing each company to test their own equipment and not make them report their results means that the DOT certification is done by the honor system.
DOT tests each helmet two times at four different impact zones. They test drops their helmets from a 6-foot height on the flat anvil and from a 4.5-foot height on the hemispherical anvil.
In 2001, DOT performed one of their spot tests on 40 helmets. There was a 20 percent failure rate with the AFX, Fulmer, HJC, M2R, NEXL, and THH helmets. Again, after the data was published, it was up to the manufacturer to bring their products into compliance.
If a helmet fails? They publish the data and rely on the manufacturer to bring the product into compliance. In 2001, 20% of the tested helmets failed the performance tests. Helmets manufactured by AFX, Fulmer, HJC, M2R, NEXL and THH. At a 20% failure rate.
It still provides for a safer helmet then one that has not been DOT approved.
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