New Motorcycle Safety Rules

As an avid motorcyclist myself, and as the Secretary of the agency charged with road safety, I’m deeply concerned that the pastime I love has such a troubling safety record. Yearly increases in motorcycle fatalities and injuries have plagued the nation for nearly a decade. Yet we’ve seen a rise in the use of so-called “novelty” helmets, which aren’t safety-test or certified, and which do little to protect riders during an accident.

I’m a rider and I’ve been in a crash where I laid down my bike on the blacktop and my helmet took the impact of the crash.  The safety-tested and certified helmet I was wearing, which is battered and bruised and will never be used again, sits in my office as a reminder that it could have been my head that suffered those blows.

The simple lesson is this:  If you’re a rider like me, you’ve got to take responsibility for wearing the right gear, including a DOT certified helmet, so you don’t end up as a brain injury patient.

That’s why today, we’re proposing new safety rules to make it harder for vendors to sell unsafe novelty helmets or for riders to get away with wearing them. Our ultimate goal is to make it easier for riders to know in advance whether the helmet they buy will keep them safe.

We are proposing to do that by requiring manufacturers to place a larger, tamper-proof DOT label on the back of certified helmets that have been through a range of safety tests.  That’s because we’ve seen many cases of people putting fake DOT stickers on novelty helmets that don’t pass muster on safety.  Trust me, I’ve seen the cross section of one of these novelty helmets and you don’t want to be relying on one to protect you in an accident. 

Importantly, our proposal would also strengthen the tests helmets must go through to receive DOT certification, including updated tests on how the helmets hold up during impact, whether objects can penetrate the helmet and how well the helmet stays in place during a crash.

There’s a good reason for the safety changes we’re proposing today.    In fact, fatalities have more than doubled since 1997--increasing by 144 percent.  Motorcycles account for about 3 percent of the vehicles on the road, but they represent 13 percent of all crashes. Yet new data indicate that nearly one in five motorcycle riders in states with helmet laws wear a non-compliant helmet.

Ultimately, safety begins with the riders themselves.  Riders must do more to protect themselves by taking personal responsibility for their own safety, including wearing a DOT certified helmet.

You know, the good news is that more Americans than ever are experiencing the freedom of the open road through motorcycling.  It’s a great feeling to gear up for what might be a quick commute or a longer pleasure ride, to feel the wind in your face and see the blacktop stretching into the distance before you. That’s why I love it and that’s why I ride.  So to all those riders who love it as much as I do, I say gear up and ride safe. 

-Secretary Peters

Comments

[Jim Kalin]

Motorcycle riders always lose when involved in any accident. If a rider hits a truck, a car, a tree, a fence or a patch of sand, they always lose. Does not matter who is at fault, they lose. So why would they be so ignorant of safety rules re: helmet design and testing? Many motorcycle riders have a "devil may care" attitude when riding. Many also are "road bullies", taking shortcuts thru traffic without regard for anyone's safety. My observations from over 25 years of bus driving and volunteer service with Fire/EMS.

[Skip Outcalt]

Rather than putting "tamper-proof labels" on the helmets, why not just publish a list of all helmets that pass the certification tests. Let the rider be responsible for knowing whither the helmet will provide the protection needed.
I believe some riders wear helmets to make a statement rather than for protection. In Colorado helmets are optional. I see a lot of riders on the interstate with no helmet or any other kind of protection.
I don't ride anymore - too scary. But when I did, I always wore a helmet.

[Honey]

Motorcycles are just dangerous, period. What percentage of people killed in motorcycle accidents would have been spared by helmets? I think you are fooling yourself if you believe that putting a DOT helmet on means that you are 'riding safely'.

[Ajlouny]

I agree with the comment above. It's a losing battle, especially when your not well protected. I have seen people ride in their flip flops...good way to lose some toes.

[WiserIan]

This is a great resource, thanks for making this information so easily accessible. I am a long time cyclist, and sometimes it is hard to figure out all of the rules!

There is a great online community related to low emissions (like bikes) and alternative fuel vehicles on WiserEarth that I think would be meaningful to Fastlane readers. Take a look at the area of focus:

http://www.wiserearth.org/aof/149

This can connect you to groups, people and organizations working towards creating more sustainable transit options. It would be great to see the input of the DOT on our community, as the experience and expertise of our transportation government workers is invaluable.

[reena]

Hi,
This topic is very helpful to young people, because they neglected some safty things.
When we are going to drive a new motor cycle we have to follow some safty precautions, those are you must wear helment.
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reena
http://www.savvybusiness.com.au

[Lynn Bankockor]

"Motorcycle riders always lose when involved in any accident. If a rider hits a truck, a car, a tree, a fence or a patch of sand, they always lose. Does not matter who is at fault, they lose. So why would they be so ignorant of safety rules re: helmet design and testing? Many motorcycle riders have a "devil may care" attitude when riding. Many also are "road bullies", taking shortcuts thru traffic without regard for anyone's safety. My observations from over 25 years of bus driving and volunteer service with Fire/EMS."

I agree, you would think they would be a little safer considering that as you said, when they get in an accident they always lose.