| Motorcycles are famously dangerous and riders must | | | | weight proves that it is made from quality material |
| to put their safety first. It's not relevant if it's your | | | | and will face up to the sudden stop of a fall. To |
| first time on the back of a bike, or your fifth | | | | determine if yours is a DOT authorized helmet you've |
| motorcycle, nobody can foretell when an accident will | | | | got to first look on the back for the letters DOT. |
| happen. A helmet should always be worn to help | | | | The thicker the firm froth the better as it will absorb |
| protect the head from injury. DOT stands for the | | | | more of the shock of impact. |
| dep. When buying yourself a helmet be sure to | | | | Fed Motor vehicle Safety Standards - The NHTSA, or |
| check for the DOT sticker on the back. | | | | state highway Traffic Safety Administration set a |
| The Fed office of transport (referred to hereafter as | | | | FMVSS (Fed. All of the way back in Aug of 1973. |
| DOT) remits that all motorcycle helmets in the U.S. | | | | This was last updated in October 1998. There's also a |
| Be tested for safety. The DOT does its own | | | | need that motorcycle helmets sold in the U.S. There |
| in-house testing on these helmets, labeling those that | | | | also must be a DOT label permanently stitched in to |
| meet its standards. If you are brooding about | | | | the inside, and not located where it could be |
| purchasing a motorcycle helmet and don't see a DOT | | | | removed along with the froth cushioning. A real DOT |
| sticker, think again. | | | | label will have the following info : the name or symbol |
| Get a proper helmet on your head, and get your | | | | of the maker, size, date of manufacture, model |
| head around these statistics - The DOT's studies | | | | number or name and the elements from which the |
| indicate that the proportion of motorcycle riders | | | | helmet is made. |
| wearing helmets has dropped thirteen percent in the | | | | Here is an extensive list to guarantee you are |
| last 4 years, down to 58 p.c of riders. | | | | purchasing a genuine DOT licensed helmet. You will |
| Notwithstanding accounting for only 2 % of the | | | | find it at the middle- back of the helmet, towards the |
| traffic on our roads, motorcycles are involved in ten | | | | bottom. Check the label looks fresh and not fiddled. |
| percent of all road accidents. of foam to pad your | | | | - Another thing to check for is the DOT label, which |
| head. This froth is meant to help absorb and spread | | | | you must find sewn to the inside of the helmet. It |
| the shock of hitting the ground. Though some riders | | | | should be in a place that doesn't permit it to be torn |
| may go for a 'skullcap' look, those do not meet the | | | | off easily or fiddled. |
| DOT standards and a not extremely useful upon | | | | In case these critical details is missing and the sticker |
| impact. | | | | or label don't satisfy you, it would do you better to |
| In the motorcycling circuit, DOT refers to the office | | | | purchase your helmet from another supplier. Helmets |
| of transport, which controls helmet circulation by way | | | | that will protect the headpiece in this test are then |
| of ensuring they meet safety requirements. Also, | | | | DOT labeled. |
| you want to check twice before using an unlabeled | | | | - After a product receives a DOT sticker, |
| helmet for it's your own safety you're compromising | | | | manufacturers don't have to test each of their |
| as such helmets won't be of much help in case of an | | | | products again. |
| emergency or accident. Another quality characteristic | | | | As you'll have understood by this point, a DOT |
| of a DOT motorcycle helmet is the chin strap. | | | | motorcycle helmets rating guarantees that the |
| Although the DOT doesn't require that all motorcycle | | | | helmet you buy maintains quality and sturdiness |
| helmets are full face, it does need that they have | | | | standards. The DOT ranking helps a patron ensure |
| extraordinarily sturdy chin straps. | | | | that the helmet they are buying has met critical |
| A DOT helmet will also be considerably heavier than | | | | safety standards, and one is no longer obliged to |
| that of a non authorized one. Look for one that is at | | | | depend on the dealer's word for the safety of the |
| least three pounds. This can seem heavy at first, but | | | | helmet. Concentrating to the previous criteria will help |
| you'll quickly become used to it, and will feel safer | | | | the shopper choose for him/herself. |
| knowing that you are as protected as possible. This | | | | |