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Snell Approved Motorcycle Helmets
Snell Approved Motorcycle Helmets
As compared to the DOT motorcycle helmets, Snell
approved motorcycle helmets lead the industry in safety.
The Snell approved motorcycle helmets are standardized
and checked by the Snell Memorial Foundation.
The Snell Memorial Foundation is privately owned and is
not associated with the federal government in the way
DOT is. The foundation is made up of a group of
concerned citizens who have come together to set
guidelines to judge whether a motorcycle helmet is safe
to be used.
The helmets are tested by dropping them to see if they
can absorb the shock that the motorcycle rider's head
will feel, if he falls off his bike or gets into an
accident. This is the standard testing, but Snell
guidelines also further test the helmets to see if they
survive being hit with a steel anvil or thrown against a
wall.
The difference between a helmet tested with the Snell
guidelines and the DOT guidelines, is that the
manufacturer determines if the helmet can be approved
for the DOT label. However, the Snell Foundation will
determine if a motorcycle helmet can be considered Snell
approved. Therefore, it is the company's job to test
their helmet and see if it complies with the DOT
guidelines.
However, the Snell Foundation will test the helmets for
themselves to see if they can be approved under the
Snell guidelines. Therefore, the manufacturers are more
accountable to the products they make when it has been
tested by the Snell foundation.
There are lots of ongoing debate about if it is possible
for a DOT approved motorcycle helmet to also be
designated a Snell approved motorcycle helmet. This is
possible if a manufacturer meets the minimum guidelines
for them to designate a helmet DOT approved.
From here, the manufacturer can further submit the
helmet for testing to have it designated as a Snell
approved helmet. In this way, if you buy a helmet with
both DOT and Snell approval, then you will know that you
have a quality helmet that has passed safety ratings.
About the Author
Lashan Clarke has been has been a freelance writer
for a number of years. She specializes in copywriting
and is currently working on her Master's degree in her
spare time. She is a regular contributor to
http://My-Motorcycle-Helmet.com
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