Motorcycle Riders, Bet you didn't know (Helmet Laws)

[Racey]

I just got a HD and was checking out which states require helmets and which don't. Upon my search i stumbled across some very interesting stuff regarding helmet laws in states that require them, especially Nevada where I'm from. I've found nearly all other helmet law states to have adopted nearly identical procedure.

The issue is regarding DOT approved helmets vs so-called 'Novelty' helmets. Apparently Nevada like most other states has absolutely no description of what makes a helmet DOT approved and instead relies on the federal '§571.218 Standard No. 218' since the Nevada DOT does absolutely no DOT certification of any helmets. It turns out the federal DOT does not either.

Here is Nevada's entire section on motorcycle helmets straight of the NRS .gov website

NRS 486.231 Protective headgear and glasses: Standards; when use required.
1. The Department shall adopt standards for protective headgear and protective glasses, goggles or face shields to be worn by the drivers and passengers of motorcycles and transparent windscreens for motorcycles.
2. Except as provided in this section, when any motorcycle, except a trimobile or moped, is being driven on a highway, the driver and passenger shall wear protective headgear securely fastened on the head and protective glasses, goggles or face shields meeting those standards. Drivers and passengers of trimobiles shall wear protective glasses, goggles or face shields which meet those standards.
3. When a motorcycle or a trimobile is equipped with a transparent windscreen meeting those standards, the driver and passenger are not required to wear glasses, goggles or face shields.
4. When a motorcycle is being driven in a parade authorized by a local authority, the driver and passenger are not required to wear the protective devices provided for in this section.
5. When a three-wheel motorcycle on which the driver and passengers ride within an enclosed cab is being driven on a highway, the driver and passengers are not required to wear the protective devices required by this section.
(Added to NRS by 1971, 1469; A 1973, 1194; 1975, 1083; 1979, 857; 1985, 1959)
NRS 486.241 Protective headgear and glasses: Sale or distribution.
1. A person shall not sell, offer for sale or distribute any protective headgear, glasses, goggles or face shields for use by any drivers or passengers of motorcycles or transparent windscreens for motorcycles unless the equipment is of a type and specification meeting the standards therefor adopted by the Department.
2. The provisions of this section do not prohibit the sale of protective headgear, glasses, goggles or face shields which comply with the rules and regulations adopted by the United States Department of Transportation.
(Added to NRS by 1971, 1469; A 1985, 1960)

The federal Department of Transportation does NO official certification of ANY motorcycle helmets. All DOT certified helmets are done solely on the honor system at the manufacturers discretion, to quote an article on the subject:

http://www.mxdirtrider.com/h-resources/s-about-Dot-helmets.htm

DOT Approved Helmets
How can you tell a helmet is DOT approved? Typically a sticker on the rear of the helmet with the letters "DOT."

How does the DOT monitor compliance with FMVSS 218? Would you be surprised to learn it's based on the honor system? Yes, you read that correct. The government relies on the manufacturer's word that the helmet was tested and passed!

Does the government do any testing? Yes, they do very, very limited testing of helmets. How limited? In 2001, they tested 40 helmets. Under the honor system, we shouldn't have to test any helmets.

What if a helmet fails? They publish the data and rely on the manufacturer to bring the product into compliance. In 2001, 20% of the tested helmets failed the performance tests. Helmets manufactured by AFX, Fulmer, HJC, M2R, NEXL and THH. At a 20% failure rate, do you think there are others out there that might fail the performance test?

DOT FMVSS 218 Standard Summary:

Developed 28 year ago.
Very, very limited testing.
Based on the honor system.

Basically the only certainty you have of any helmet passing the DOT certification is to perform destructive testing on it. The only way LEO can write a citation that will hold up in court is if the helmet doesn't have 3 stickers on the back (mfg/model # ; DOT ; date of mfg) Any citation written for a helmet displaying those 3 items will almost always be dismissed by the District Attorney once presented with the proper documentation of the applicable laws because it's a losing case for them, Since the average citizen can only take the word of what information is printed on the helmet. With no official certification there is no way to prove or disprove a helmet is or is not DOT certified.

as long as your 'protective headgear' (helmet) has those three things you are good to go.





This to boot, from an email exchange between a rider that was forced to park his bike in the middle of the nevada desert until such time that he came back to ride with a proper DOT helmet

http://www.usff.com/hldl/frames/50state.html

I have yet to see a legitimate statistical analysis that supports the contentions of those who believe that wearing a helmet makes riding a motorcycle safer. The figures cited in the AG's Opinion are bogus. At best, misstatements, but nonetheless bogus. When California's helmet law came into effect in 1992, our research shows that the number of riders wearing helmets increased from 50% to 99.999999%; the number of deaths per 100 accidents remained virtually the same; the number of miles traveled by motorcycle dropped 40% over the year before, but the total number or deaths only dropped 35%; and the number of broken necks went up 800%. (All but the miles traveled figures came from the CHP.)

Here are pics of the bike and me at Goffs Rd 'Oasis' :smackhead on my maiden voyage when i picked it up.

 

[LowRiver2]

Not one to debate the helmet law. I only say if you don't wear one on the concrete highway, why wear one on the dirt? I"m just sayin.


Interesting info. Was always told there is an industry standard as to what classifies a DOT certification. Pick up any novelty and feel the difference. I'm sure ABATE will say I"m wrong.

All I know is Darin, a friend of mine, was wearing a novelty helmet when he got T boned. The thin plastic with no extra foam, padding was less protection than a baseball cap. His impact was the lower right section of his skull which is covered on all DOT half helmets. Darin has limited memory over a year after his accident. I looked into this case and all doctors (5) neuro surgeons I spoke to all agreed the extra protection of a DOT helmet would have prevented this injury.

The part of your info. about broken necks is a sad trade off.
In the end, it's all about the amount of risk you take. I'd like to see a study of stats. on long term, hospice care injury rates both pre and post helmet laws. Those accidents are what cost the state the most and a big part (whether true or imagined), of what prompted mandatory use.

Difficult issue. I wear one even in AZ. but that's my choice which is based on the "if I wear one for dirt, why not for asphalt?

To each his own, thanks for the info.

Screamin Eagle Road Glide, nice bike.

 

[maxwedge]

The state helmet law standards are almost universally fugged up. Abate like to expound upon this fact at every chance they get, but it still doesn't mean you shouldn't wear a good helmet. There is actually another, IMO, more important helmet certification besides DOT which is issued by the Snell Memorial Foundation, a private NPO that does helmet testing.http://www.smf.org/ There is lot's of info on Snell vs DOT certification, and lots of good helmets actually meet both standards, but there are differences in the way they are tested. I suggest anybody buying a helmet do plenty of research first. It may save your life. They are constantly upgrading the rating systems and adopting new testing standards as well. Several of the motorcycle mags have done articles explaining the differences as well.

Like the saying goes... "if you have a ten dollar head, get a ten dollar helmet"

 

[angiebaby]

Congrats on the bike. My dad bought on on Monday. Now Sportin' Wood will have someone to ride with

 

[MalibuKen]

Congrats on the new scoot Racey!
FWIW, I always wear my skid lid no matter what state I am in, but do not condone those who choose not to. Funny how different states have different laws and how they are interpreted.
Looks like we should have a RDP ride over to Raceys hood for lunch.

 

[Racey]

The snell standard is by far the best, but as far as i know snell helmets are all full style that come down to neck line, some of them are open face, but they all are at least this style i believe

I'm not debating the importance of a good helmet, just the laws. On the dirt is an entire seperate issue, you have much more of a chance of crashing/head injury there. I've ridden at least 10x the distance on the street as i have in the dirt/dunes, i can't count how many times i've eatin pretty good shit in the dirt and hit my head, the dirt carries a much more inherent risk of a crash, unless you ride fire roads

As a guy with mostly libertarian political views i believe that you should have the freedom to choose for yourself, no differently than being forced to wear a seatbelt in an automobile as an adult.

 

[LowRiver2]

While agree most cyclists will ride farther without going down on the street vs. dirt, the percentage a significant head injury will result on pavement is pretty certain.

From experience at collision scenes and now grinding asphalt for second job, I can say hard pavement can and will crack a skull even during a low speed fall in which the unhelmeted rider falls and does'nt clear the bike, break the fall with something else other than his noggin. I remember the fatality where the guy was literally going 5 mph, fell, head did a direct boune off the asphalt, and all was over.


On another note, Jay Leno said something so true once. Ever notice when you talk to a non rider about motorcycles, they almost always immediately bring up someone they know who crashed? I guess it's just the negative side of human nature/lol.

 

[rmarion]

congrats on the Screaming Eagle Road Glide..........:thumbsup

 

[John McGuinness]

I think the jury is still out regarding Snell vs. DOT, with regards as to which certification is more likely to prevent injury. One of the cycle magazines, I think it was Cycle, did some pretty extensive testing of various helmets in a lab setting.
From what I remember, the Snell helmet transfered more G forces to your brain due its requirement to withstand a double hit in the same spot of the helmet. They had to make the Snell helmets too hard.
The 60 dollar Pep Boy helmet was one of the best performing helmets.
Anyway, I still feel better with my 500 buck Arai.

 

[Racey]

The bike is badass, has a 95 inch fuel injected motor with Reinhart exhaust. it flat moves for a big old bagger. It'll be nice for taking quick trips to the river.

I'm wanna try to ride up to sturgis this year, take about 2 or 3 days hit Yellowstone on the way up and stay up there for 2 or 3 days. a good friend of my Dad's has a big Country Coach pusher with a double decker AC'd trailer, he said this may be his last trip. So i'll have a nice dialed place to crash up there. The place is breath-taking.

Here are some cool pictures from the last time i was there in '04. There are these narrow winding roads called the pigtails where the terrain would be too steep to make a straight run, so they shape them in a loop like (hence pigtail) to give enough slope to make a fair grade. The bridges are all timber, and there are several single lane tunnels cut through the solid rock that makes up the Black Hills and Mt Rushmore.

One Picture is from the top the other from the bottom.

The picture of the town and the huge crowd is from a place in Wyoming called Hulett. It goes absolutely nuts that week especially 'No Pantie Wednesday'. The picture pretty much shows the entire town, it's just one main street, it may have 500 residents normally. there are 10s of thousands there that day. Bikes have to park lining both sides of the highway in and out of town for probably a mile.

 

[Retired Member]

Organ donors!



If you have a $20 head, wear a $20 helmet.

 

[69 1/2]

I have not ridden in years mostly because I have young kids and I understand the inherent dangers. Recently I heard the following phrase that made total sense. "Dress for the crash, not the ride."

 

[Mondorally]

Cool pics Shane!