DOT and Snell Motorcycle Helmets: Understanding DOT and Snell Ratings

A number of factors come into play for a riderlevel of testing.Snell Rating The Snell certification
when considering a new helmet purchase. Onestands in rigorous contrast to DOT specifications.
factor all riders must consider, and the numberHelmet manufacturers voluntarily submit their
one reason to wear a helmet in the first place,products to the Snell evaluation service and pay
remains safety.According to the National Highwayfor the testing procedures. These procedures are
Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in 2003,extensive and include seven test types, from
when comparing mile for mile, motorcycle ridersimpact to shell penetration tests to flame
faced a 32 percent greater likelihood of dying in aresistance testing. The type and degree of testing
wreck compared to drivers in a car. In fact, theis dependent on the type of helmet and its
simple practice of wearing a helmet canapplication.Snell cites the following areas as critical
dramatically reduce the number of road fatalitiesin helmet safety:
for cycle riders. The NHTSA estimates thatImpact management: how well the helmet
between 1984 and 2004, nearly 11,000protects against collisions with large objects;
motorcyclists would be alive today if they wereHelmet positional stability: whether the helmet will
wearing a helmet while riding.Snell and Departmentbe in place, on the head, when it's needed;
of Transportation (DOT) ranking remain anRetention system strength: whether the chin
industry standard by which customers can judgestraps are sufficiently strong enough to hold the
the safety "effectiveness" of a helmet. But whathelmet throughout a head impact; and
do the DOT and Snell standards mean for theExtent of protection: the area of the head
average rider?For starters, these ratings wereprotected by the helmet.
created to offer objective criteria for certifyingSnell Memorial Foundation, Inc. ( 2005). 2005
helmet safety. As a result, instead of relying onStandard for Protective Headgear, 4.In short, Snell
what a manufacturer or dealer might tell a buyer,offers the highest certification standards regarding
now the buyer can identify real criteria in judginghelmet safety. But a buyer will pay a higher price
the measure of protection offered by a particularfor Snell certified helmets, as the added costs of
helmet.But what testing procedures are employedproduction and testing add to the overall value of
in determining that criteria? Let's begin with thethe helmet.Safety MattersA number of points
DOT rating.DOT Rating The DOT performs aexist in the mind of a buyer when considering a
straight forward impact test. Using a simulatedhelmet purchase. Style, color, fit, and comfort are
head placed inside a helmet, testers drop theextremely important factors when purchasing a
helmet from a height of ten feet. The headhelmet. Price is also a consideration for many
cannot receive more than 400 G-force units onbuyers. However, safety should be paramount
impact. A G-force unit measures the force ofwhen purchasing a helmet. If you scrimp too
gravity exerted against an object in motion.Nowmuch on price, you might get a nice looking
here's the kicker with DOT ratedhelmet that unfortunately doesn't hold up in those
helmets--manufacturers don't need to test theircritical moments. So take the time, do your
helmets in order to claim a DOT rating! A helmethomework, and find a helmet that will keep you
manufacturer simply needs to feel that a helmetalive and allow you to keep riding for years to
is meeting the DOT specifications to brand it ascome.Charles Palmer is content developer for - a
"DOT rated." The DOT might occasionally pullretailer of motorcycle, motocross, and
helmets to perform testing, but the majority ofsnowmobile helmets, riding accessories and
helmets sold as DOT certified do not undergo anyapparel.