Maryland: Wearing illegal helmets will have consequences

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http://times-news.com/local/x1527123060/Wearing-illegal-headgear-may-come-at-price-for-motorcycle-riders
 Wearing illegal headgear may come at price for motorcycle riders Novelty helmets don’t meet safety standards Elaine Blaisdell Cumberland Times-News



CUMBERLAND — With the onset of warm weather, more and more motorcycles are going to be on the road. Many motorcyclists using novelty or beanie helmets may not know they are in violation of a nationwide Department of Transportation law that requires helmets to meet Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 218.

Helmet manufacturers are responsible for certifying that motorcycle helmets are compliant with the standard, according to a State Highway Administration motorcycle safety fact sheet.

Helmets that meet the standard must have a sticker on the outside back of the helmet with the letters “DOT,” according to a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration pamphlet on identifying unsafe motorcycle helmets. Some novelty helmet sellers provide DOT stickers separately for motorcyclists to place on non-complying helmets. In this case, the DOT sticker is invalid and does not certify compliance.

“Stores can sell what they want,” said Buel Young, a Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration spokesman.

Cumberland Police haven’t seen any problems with non-compliant helmets recently, said Sgt. Anthony Rumgay.

Rumgay said novelty helmets are a new fad. “We haven’t handled any (motorcycle) accidents where an operator wasn’t wearing a DOT-certified helmet,” he said. “So far, all helmets have been the proper helmets. That’s not to say that it won’t happen.”

Motorcyclists without certification will be stopped and fined $110 for not wearing required headgear protection, according to Rumgay.

May is Motorcycle Awareness Month.

“During this month we try and create awareness. With warm weather, more and more motorcyclists appear on roads,” said Young. “Motorcycle safety awareness is a two-way street. Motorists need to be more attentive when driving to help keep motorcyclists safe. Motorcyclists need to make themselves more visible, check their speed and follow the rules of the roadway. The ultimate goal is to save lives by reducing crashes to keep motorcyclists safe in Maryland.”

A proper DOT-certified helmet can help to minimize head injuries and prevent death due to head trauma, according to the SHA’s motorcycle safety fact sheet.

“When compared to certified motorcycle helmets, novelty helmets perform significantly worse in terms of their ability to absorb impact energy during a motorcycle crash,” says a traffic safety administration report.

DOT-certified helmets can be determined by their weight, generally three pounds; thickness of the inner liner, usually 1 inch thick; and the quality of the chin strap and rivets.

Manufacturer labels that include the manufacturer’s name, model, size, month and year of manufacture, construction materials and owner’s information are also required under safety standards.

In addition, helmets that carry Snell  or American National Standards Institute labels inside are good indicators that the helmet meets the national safety standards.

“To date, we have never seen a novelty helmet that has a phony DOT sticker in addition to a phony Snell or ANSI label” said the pamphlet.

Allegany College of Maryland offers a basic rider course for motorcyclists that discusses how to select the proper riding gear.

Riders who pass the class receive a Maryland Motorcycle Safety Program Completion Card and are eligible to apply for a motorcycle license through the MVA.