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D.O.T. Helmet Safety Ratings

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Motorcycle helmets reduce the number of deaths in crashes.

Bikers concerned about safety are also concerned about helmets, in addition to the fact that the law requires them to wear helmets in many states. Studies have shown that more motorcycle riders could avoid accidental death if wearing a helmet.

  1. Function

    • The Department of Transportation (DOT) rates the safety capacity of helmets outside of the testing and rating conducted by helmet manufacturers.

    Rating Method

    • To test and rate helmets, the DOT uses a simulated human head and drops it 10 feet after placing it in the helmet to be tested. If the helmet protects the simulated head from receiving too much force, the manufacturer can place a "DOT-rated" label on the helmet.

    Honor System

    • While the DOT randomly selects helmets to test and rate, manufacturers are allowed to make their own determination as to whether their product would pass the DOT standards and accordingly, place the "DOT-rated" label on their product with or without DOT involvement.

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  • Photo Credit latina rider image by Leticia Wilson from Fotolia.com

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