DOT Cracking Down on Novelty Motorcycle Helmets
Wednesday October 8, 2008
The Department of Transportation (DOT) has upped its efforts to regulate so called "novelty" motorcycle helmets out of existence. Proposed new safety regulations will require that the DOT label on the back of safety-certified helmets be made larger and harder to remove. Unscrupulous vendors sometimes remove the DOT labels from certified helmets and place them on their non-certified novelty helmets. The proposed regulation would also strengthen the DOT helmet safety certification program.
"Novelty helmets do little to protect riders during an accident," said Sec. Peters in a press release. "This proposal will make it easier for riders to know in advance whether the helmet they buy will keep them safe."
According to Peters, in states with mandatory helmet laws, one in five riders wears a non-DOT certified helmet, and that of the 4,837 motorcyclists killed in 2006, 40 percent were not wearing a helmet.
Comments
“..of the 4,837 motorcyclists killed in 2006, 40 percent were not wearing a helmet.”
Which, of course, means 60% wore a helmet and died anyway!
Search the DOT website: you’ll find nothing on the one device that might have prevented over half of those 4,837 accidents - a headlight modulator.
According to the NHTSA’s statistics, over half of those accidents were caused when someone either turned left or pulled in front of the motorcycle.
Ms. Peter’s (a part time, pretend to be motorcyclist) refuses to mention headlight modulators in press releases, speeches, advertisements or on the DOT website. Watch her advertisement on the DOT website touting the benefits of wearing helmets - not one modulator in sight.
Modulators cost only $80, and are legal in all 50 states by federal law. Telling bikers about modulators would reduce the number of accidents, and Ms. Peter’s would be left with little to justify mandatory helmets.
Of course helmets didn’t help that 60% majority of dead bikers, or their families and friends, did they?
Live to Ride. Blink to live!
Terry — Great point! I’ve seen about half-a-dozen bikers around my town (N. California) using modulators. The big point here is that I SAW them. Modulators may tick off some drivers and some riders, but they do help.
Robert