October 1, 2008
US - The U.S. Department of Transportation is proposing to amend its current motorcycle helmet safety rules to require manufacturers to place a larger, tamper-proof DOT label on the back of certified helmets, reported the U.S. Department of Transportation. The proposed rule would also strengthen the tests helmets must go through to receive DOT certification.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Mary E. Peters says the new rules would make it easier for riders to identify and use effective helmets. The proposal will also make it harder for riders to use novelty helmets in states that require DOT-certified helmets. The new labels will also make it harder for vendors to remove the labels on safe helmets and affix them to the unsafe novelty helmets.
David Kelly, Acting NHTSA Administrator stated, “As our testing has shown, these ‘novelty’ helmets do not have the energy absorbing capacity to protect a rider in a highway crash. A DOT-certified and labeled helmet, as proposed today, will help consumers make more knowledgeable decisions when purchasing a helmet.”
Reprinted with permission from Powersports Business.
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