Everything You Need to Know About Helmet Safety Ratings

A motorcycle helmet is one of the most important pieces of gear for a rider because it saves lives. Having a helmet on during a collision is crucial because it will give you head protection during impact. When it comes to head protection, riders want the very best, but you may notice that helmets have several different helmet certifications. Here is everything you need to know about helmet safety ratings and what they mean.

DOT:

If your helmet has a DOT rating, it means that it meets the minimum criteria that a helmet manufacturer must certify against in the United States. The National Highway Safety Administration (NHTSA) enforcement authority of the DOT certification requirement applies to helmets intended for on-road use, though using a certified helmet for off-road purposes or in a competition is certainly a good idea. If your helmet is DOT certified, it means it has passed the impact attenuation test, penetration test, retention strap test, and the peripheral vision test.

SNELL:

If your helmet has a SNELL sticker, it means it has been tested and approved by the Snell Memorial Foundation. Although this certification is not required by law in the United States, this voluntary testing procedure goes above the minimum criteria to test helmets. SNELL tests for impact, positional stability, dynamic retention, chin bar, shell penetration, and face shield penetration. Although this certification is not required, having a SNELL certified helmet makes it that much safer.

ECE 22.05 Certification:

ECE stands for “Economic Commission for Europe.” This certification is used in more than 50 countries in Europe. The ECE certification is similar to the DOT and Snell certification. The tests vary slightly, but the ECE also includes a retention test for slipping, abrasion, retention, and durability. ECE is also known to test their helmets in various environmental conditions like low and high temperatures, ultraviolet light, humidity, and moisture. Any helmet with an ECE 22.05 sticker meets all the requirements.

SHARP:

SHARP is an independent crash helmet safety test that does not provide certifications but instead assigns a “star rating” to European-model lids. The ratings are shown from a 1-star (lowest) to a 5-star (highest). They are testing helmets in real-world tests and rating them based on their performance. SHARP tests helmets that are bought from actual stores so that manufacturers cannot interfere with the ratings. SHARP bases its rating on speed and real-world rotation.

Uncertified Helmets:

Helmets that do not pass any certifications are known as “novelty” helmets. If your helmet does not have any of the certifications mentioned above, they are extremely unsafe because they do not offer any protection and are illegal to wear while riding.

What Rating is Best?

There are many factors that go into choosing a helmet. The fit, finish, comfort, ease of use, and feature set of a helmet can all play into the overall safety of the rider. You may get a helmet that passes one, two, three, or all certifications, so you may have a helmet that is just DOT, DOT, and SNELL, or DOT and ECE approved. When picking a helmet, choose one that is comfortable, but also gives you great protection when riding.

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