About DOT Motorcycle Helmets – What Are They? By Penelope Morgan At Isnare.com Ezine Articles

In the motorcycling circuit, DOT refers to the Department of Transportation, which regulates helmet circulation by way of ensuring they meet safety requirements. It has made rules to ascertain that all helmets are checked for safety and labels those it considers safe. So if you are looking for a helmet, make sure it has the DOT tag on it, if you don’t want to get hauled up for using an illegal helmet. Also, you want to check twice before using an unlabeled helmet for it’s your own safety you’re compromising as such helmets won’t be of much help in case of an emergency or accident.

Make Sure You’re Buying a Genuine DOT Helmet

Here is an extensive list to ensure you’re buying a genuine DOT approved helmet. It will help you avoid being duped with a fake DOT helmet and to choose wisely.

o To begin with, check for the DOT sticker. You will find it at the middle- back of the helmet, towards the bottom. Check that the label looks fresh and not tampered.

o Another thing to check for is the DOT label, which you should find sewn to the inside of the helmet.
oPay attention to the location of this label. It should be in a place that doesn’t allow it to be torn off easily or tampered.

o In addition, the DOT sticker should carry some basic information, such as the logo and/or the name of the manufacturer, its date of manufacture, the helmet’s name, size, weight, etc, the model number of helmet and a list of the components used in its manufacture.

In case these important details is missing and the sticker or label don’t satisfy you, it would do you better to buy your helmet from another supplier.

Benefits of Buying DOT Helmets:

As will be clear to you by now, the DOT ranking helps a consumer ensure that the helmet they are purchasing has met important safety standards, and one is no longer obliged to depend on the dealer’s word for the safety of the helmet. Paying attention to the above-mentioned criteria will help the consumer decide for him/herself.

What is the Helmet Testing Procedure DOT Employs?

Here’s a quick look at the procedure DOT uses to ascertain helmet safety:

o The most important part of the process is an impact test in which a headpiece is inserted inside the helmet.

o This is followed by dropping the helmet from a height of roughly ten feet to ascertain that it can survive accidents and restrict the G-force or gravitational force of any impact to limits that a human head can survive (roughly, G-force of 400 units). Helmets that can protect the headpiece in this test are then DOT labeled.

o After a product receives a DOT sticker, manufacturers don’t have to test each of their products again.

o Manufacturers are then free to sell any of their helmets that meet DOT requirements.

As you may have understood by now, a DOT rating ensures that the helmet you purchase maintains quality and durability standards. The DOT labeling will go a long way in ensuring your safety on the road.

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