If you are in the market to buy a motorcycle helmet then one of the first things to consider safety ratings. You want to make sure you buy a helmet that is safe.
What are helmet safety ratings? Helmet safety ratings are a series of safety tests and regulations set by major safety and quality control organizations such as the DOT and ECE. If a helmet does not meet these certain safety testing criteria, it should not be worn or sold.
This guide will help you better understand the different safety rating systems and provide a recommendation of some of the safest helmets to wear.
DOT vs Snell vs ECE Helmet Ratings
I’m sure you have seen and heard these motorcycle helmet safety rating standards before. Once a helmet is designed, it must undergo rigorous testing to meet certain safety protocol before it can be considered street legal.
The minimum motorcycle helmet crash test ratings that must be met in order to be legal in the US is the DOT certification. For countries over in Europe, they follow the ECE safety protocol, which is similar to DOT.
A more strict safety protocol is the Snell certification. However, non-Snell certified helmet is not always better than a DOT and Snell certified helmet. This tends to be somewhat of a gray area when it comes to determining which is better. As long as your helmet is certified under of these rating systems you should be fine. Watch the video below for more information.
Below I have outlined a high-level overview of each safety rating system and provided a few helmets that meet those standards.
What is Snell Approved?
Do you know what Snell approved means if you see it on a helmet? Snell is a certain rating system developed by the Snell Memorial Foundation. The standards and testing for this rating system are considered to be much higher and more in-depth than the DOT rating system.
Note that the Snell rating is entirely voluntary. That means manufacturers do not have to comply with this safety protocol.
For quite some time now, the Snell organization has been questioning the overall validity of DOT standards of safety. They feel DOT testing is not enough to ensure complete helmet safety.
Since Snell certified helmets undergo more intense testing and need to meet higher requirements than government regulations deem necessary, they can be considered the “safer” helmet. So if you want to be reassured that you are buying the safest, get a Snell certified helmet.
Snell Approved Motorcycle Helmets
If you are searching for a Snell approved motorcycle helmet, here are a few I recommend you check out.
These are just a few examples of Snell motorcycle helmets that are certified. For a complete list visit the Snell M2015 certified active helmets.
What does DOT Approved Mean?
Do you know what DOT stands for? It is a section of the U.S Government’s National Traffic Safety Administration Agency. It stands for Department of Transportation.
This certification is the basic minimum safety protocol a helmet should meet in order to be street legal. The most recent certification is the DOT FMVSS-218. This consists of a series of tests and exams to determine if each helmet meets the specific requirements of DOT.
These tests measure impact absorption, penetration depth, and retention capability. DOT helmet standards favor a shock-absorbing helmet.
Compared to the Snell ratings, DOT is considered to be fairly easy to pass. DOT claims that Snell requirements are overly excessive and unnecessary.
Helmet manufacturers are responsible for their own DOT rating. The government has the right to do a surprise inspection at any time.
Does a motorcycle helmet have to be DOT approved?
You may be wondering if you have to wear a DOT helmet? The answer resides in which state you live. Some states enforce DOT helmets while others don’t. Make sure you know your state’s laws before you ride. I would highly recommend wearing a DOT helmet regardless of state laws because these are some of the safest helmets on the market.
Are DOT Approved Helmets Legal In UK?
The short answer is NO. If you live in a different county such as the United Kingdom, you may be wondering if it is legal to wear an American DOT helmet? An American DOT approved helmet is not recognized in other countries.
You cannot wear an American DOT approved helmet in a different country because it has not been through the required testing for that specific country. Each country has their own safety standards and regulations. This means insurers have the ability to refuse to reduce damages if you ever got in an accident while riding a motor vehicle in a different country.
DOT Approved Helmet List
Here are a few motorcycle helmets that are DOT approved:
These are just a few DOT approved motorcycle helmets to choose from. Feel free to research more helmets that meet DOT certifications.
ECE 22.05 Certification
Do you know what ECE means when you see it on a helmet? This is the standard safety rating for European countries. ECE stands for Economic Commission for Europe. It was created by the United Nations.
Over 50 countries have adopted this helmet safety protocol and favor energy absorbing helmets like that of the DOT standards. The most current safety standard is the ECE 22.05.
What is the difference between ECE and DOT? All tests for the ECE are pretty much identical aside from a slight difference in the amount of energy source for impact testing. Also, DOT allows more room for helmet extensions than ECE.
One other major difference to note when comparing ECE to DOT is the overall testing. DOT requires that manufacturers use the “honor code” while ECE tests all new helmet designs themselves before being released to the marketplace.
Are ECE helmets legal in the US?
ECE helmets alone are not legally recognized in the US. The ECE safety certification is only recognized by its participating member nations. The US is not one of the participating members in the ECE safety regulation community. The only way ECE helmets can be accepted to be worn in the US is if meets DOT requirements. Once it gets stamped with this approval then it is considered a worldly helmet and can be legally recognized by the US.
ECE Helmet List
Below are a few ECE approved helmets that you can check out if you reside outside the US.
Do You Have to Wear a Motorcycle Helmet In America?
This rule varies by state. Some states absolutely require you to wear a helmet while others require you to wear one up to a certain age. Illinois, Iowa, and New Hampshire do not require you to wear a motorcycle helmet at all. If you are unsure if you have to wear one in your state then make sure to check out this map of US motorcycle helmet laws to determine if you need to wear one while riding.
How To Determine If A Helmet Is Unsafe
Now that you know a little more about each of the safety ratings, here are a few extra tips to determine if a helmet is unsafe. You can use this as a quick checklist when you go to try on helmets or browsing through your favorites online. I found these items on the NHTSA helmet safety page so make sure to visit it for more information.
Interior Liner
The interior padding should be at least an inch thick. Make sure to feel that the interior lining of the helmet is not too thin.
Chin Strap
Test the chin strap and rivets of your helmet by pulling on them or applying light pressure. This will demonstrate the overall strength. Also, if you are in the store, put the helmet on and jump up and down or shake your head. The chin strap should not break.
Weight
I’ve talked about this factor before. While you don’t want your helmet to be too heavy, the same can be said for the opposite end of the spectrum. You want to make sure you helmet isn’t too light. Typically a weight of 3 pounds is considered a “safe” helmet.
Protruding Elements
Anything protruding more than two-tenths of an inch from your helmet is deemed unsafe. If you wear a helmet with an extension longer than that it could get caught on something.
Check For Safety Stickers
You want to make sure the helmet you are going to purchase has a DOT, ECE, or Snell sticker on it. This should be one of the first items to look for that will guarantee your safety.
Final Thoughts
When choosing a helmet there are many factors that will influence your decision from design to ventilation to comfort. However, the most important feature is safety.
You want to make sure it is certified by one of the organizations (Snell, DOT, or ECE) depending on what country you live in. When it comes to proper helmet safety, another important factor to consider is the size of your head and head shape. Make sure to review my article on how to determine the correct size helmet for your head so you can keep it successfully protected if you get in a crash.
