The Ultimate Guide to Motorcycle Helmet Safety Standards & Comparisons
The only reason we buy and wear motorcycle helmets is for safety. But safety standards for motorcycle helmets are inconsistent. Will the cute anime helmet you bought for your daughter withstand the impact of a lay-down on a concrete road? What about the helmet your brother wears for off-roading and dirt-biking? In a motorcycle helmets international safety standards comparison, some helmets don’t provide the safety you need.
Motorcycle Helmets International Safety Standards Comparison
…The subject of motorcycle helmet safety standards is highly complex, so it’s no wonder the general riding public is confused. -Web Bike World
U.S. motorcycle helmets may have a specific shell construction or thickness to allow it to pass the Department of Transportation (DOT) penetration test. The Economic Commission for Europe (ECE) may have different standards.
Some manufacturers include a DOT/ECE Standards sticker, which means the helmet meets both safety standards, even though the ECE has tougher requirements. Some declare the ECE label can only be applied to helmets sold in European countries, so how can a helmet have an ECE/DOT label in France? It’s because there are global/international inconsistencies in manufacturing, distribution, and sales of motorcycle helmets. Monitoring is minimal.
Other countries with motorcycle safety standards include:
- Australia – AS 1698-2006
- Brazil – NBR 7471
- Canada – CSA CAN3-D230-M85
- India – IS 4151
- Japan – SG/JIS
- Korea – KS G 7001
- Malaysia – SIRIM
- New Zealand – NZ 5430
- Singapore – PSB
- Taiwan – CNS (compatible to JIS)
- Thailand – TIS
- ACU Gold
- BSI (British Standards Institution)
- SHARP