The Personal Blog Of
Boston Motorcycle Lawyer

Novelty Helmets are a Joke
October 3, 2009

Regardless of what state you live in, motorcycle helmets are the single most important piece of safety gear a biker can wear. Not just any helmet, DOT helmets are what every biker should own and wear during every ride. While non-DOT novelty helmets offer increased style, they simply do not protect the rider. Consider these facts.

• Novelty helmets do not met DOT standards: DOT standards have been put in place to insure head injuries are minimized as much as possible. Novelty helmets are created for style only and do not have to meet any transportation related safety standards.

• Novelty helmets offer only token protection: Other than providing some minor impact protection, novelty helmets are slightly more effective in preventing head injuries than a baseball hat.

• In some states, novelty helmets are illegal: In states with mandatory helmet laws, only DOT approved helmets meet the legal standard.

Low speed accidents or falls can cause catastrophic head injuries resulting in brain damage or death. Only DOT approved helmets provide the level of protection that will keep bikers as safe as possible. Looking stylish at the expensive of safety is not cool at all.