Ratings for Motorcycle Helmets

SNELL vs DOT

 

 

 

Understanding DOT and Snell Ratings.

As an avid motorcyclist I've always been reassured, but also slightly baffled by helmet standards, if seems odd that there's more than one standard - and standards that have greatly different requirements. Not surprisingly, there's some controversy about which is best.

 

Snell and DOT (Department of Transportation) ranking
remain an industry standard by which customers can judge
the safety "effectiveness" of a helmet.

 

These ratings were created to offer objective criteria for certifying helmet safety. As a result, instead of relying on what a manufacturer or dealer might tell a buyer, now the buyer can identify real criteria in judging the measure of protection offered by a particular helmet.

...but a DOT certified helmet might not pass a Snell test and a Snell might not pass a DOT.

So what does this all mean?

Well here's a break down of what each standard means and how they’re different, with a brief explanation of the pros and cons, and then you can better decide for yourself.

The tests involve inverting a helmet with a “headform” inside it - the headform is weighted and it contains instruments for measuring velocity and G-forces. The helmet slides down a rail at high speed and strikes an anvil. On impact the G-force exerted on the headform is measured. The test is then repeated on the same impact point to ensure the helmet can protect from multiple strikes (usually two strikes of equal force) to the same area.

DOT – An acronym for Department of Transport. DOT is the is US government approved standard and, in the United States, is the most popular. DOT standards are aimed at protecting skulls from 90% of impact types and favours a more shock-absorbent helmet. The maximum G-force allowed by the DOT test is 250g’s. An impact of 200 to 250 g’s to the head would result in a severe, though probably survivable brain injury. The DOT’s favouritism towards more shock-absorbent helmets seems to fall inline with recent studies indicating that absorbing the force of an impact is more important than resisting the impact.

Snell – The Snell Memorial Foundation is a not-for-profit, independent organisation established in 1957 and is named after William “Pete” Snell, a famous racing car driver who was tragically killed in 1956 when a helmet failed to protect his head during an accident. The Snell M2005 is the “old standard” and favours a more shock-resistant helmet, the M2010 is the new, more shock-absorbent standard. The Snell M2005 test allows an impact-shock of up to 300g’s, a 250 to 300g impact would result in a critical head injury. The M2010 standard allows a maximum of 275g’s. The Snell M2005 standard is widely believed to be too “hard”, the newer M2010 is set to replace it completely in 2013. Snell certified helmets are allowed by the AMA for professional motorcycle racing.

DOT Rating
The DOT performs a straight forward impact test. Using a simulated head placed inside a helmet, testers drop the helmet from a height of ten feet. The head cannot receive more than 400 G-force units on impact. A G-force unit measures the force of gravity exerted against an object in motion.

Now here's the kicker with DOT rated helmets - manufacturers don't need to test their helmets in order to claim a DOT rating! A helmet manufacturer simply needs to feel that a helmet is meeting the DOT specifications to brand it as "DOT rated." The DOT might occasionally pull helmets to perform testing, but the majority of helmets sold as DOT certified do not undergo any level of testing.

Snell Rating
The Snell certification stands in rigorous contrast to DOT specifications. Helmet manufacturers voluntarily submit their products to the Snell evaluation service and pay for the testing procedures. These procedures are extensive and include seven test types, from impact to shell penetration tests to flame resistance testing. The type and degree of testing is dependent on the type of helmet and its application.

Snell cites the following areas as critical in helmet safety:

• Impact management: how well the helmet protects against collisions with large objects

• Helmet positional stability: whether the helmet will be in place, on the head, when it's needed

• Retention system strength: whether the chin straps are sufficiently strong enough to hold the helmet throughout a head impact

• Extent of protection: the area of the head protected by the helmet.

In short, Snell offers the highest certification standards regarding helmet safety. But a buyer will pay a higher price for Snell certified helmets, as the added costs of production and testing add to the overall value of the helmet.

Safety Matters
A number of points exist in the mind of a motorcyclist when considering a helmet purchase.

Style, color, fit, and comfort are important factors. Price is also a consideration for many.

However, safety should be the most important consideration when buying a helmet. If you scrimp too much on price, you might get a nice looking helmet that unfortunately doesn't hold up in those critical moments.

So take the time, do your homework, and find a helmet that will keep you alive and allow you to keep riding for years to come.

 

Resources: | smf.org | dot.gov | helmetoutletusa.com | silodrome.com | iihs.org |

State Motorcycle Helmet Use Governs:

(SOURCE: The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)

Alabama
all riders

Alaska
17 and younger

Arizona
17 and younger

Arkansas
20 and younger

California
all riders

Colorado
17 and younger and passengers 17 and younger

Connecticut
17 and younger

Delaware
18 and younger

District of Columbia
all riders

Florida
20 and younger

Georgia
all riders

Hawaii
17 and younger

Idaho
17 and younger

Illinois
no law

Indiana
17 and younger

Iowa
no law

Kansas
17 and younger

Kentucky
20 and younger

Louisiana
all riders

Maine
17 and younger

Maryland
all riders

Massachusetts
all riders

Michigan
all riders

Minnesota
17 and younger

Mississippi
all riders

Missouri
all riders

Montana
17 and younger

Nebraska
all riders

Nevada
all riders

New Hampshire
no law

New Jersey
all riders

New Mexico
17 and younger

New York
all riders

North Carolina
all riders

North Dakota
17 and younger

Ohio
17 and younger

Oklahoma
17 and younger

Oregon all riders

Pennsylvania
20 and younger

Rhode Island
20 and younger

South Carolina
20 and younger

South Dakota
17 and younger

Tennessee
all riders

Texas
20 and younger

Utah
17 and younger

Vermont
all riders

Virginia
all riders

Washington
all riders

West Virginia
all riders

Wisconsin
17 and younger

Wyoming
17 and younger

View Previous

Blogs & Articles

View Next

 

Ride on!

—Michael Murray
Owner | Rider | Enthiusiast

michael@motorcycletraveldvds.com

Facebook.com/MotorcycleTravelDVDs

Twitter.com/MotorcycleDVDs

YouTube.com/MotorcycleTravelDVDs

LinkedIn.com/in/MotorcycleTravelDVDs

 

	Subscribe to my Motorcycle Blog! * required Email Address * First Name