DOT changes to FMVSS 218 go into effect May 2013
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) / Department of Transportation (DOT) released a final ruling in changes to FMVS 218 which regards motorcycle helmet regulations. At some point in the near future helmet manufacturers will be required to change the markings of helmets in several ways. The major change will be to permanently mark the back of a helmet with the words "FMVS 218 DOT CERTIFIED", and include the brand name. The stated reason for this is so that the police can spot alleged "fake" stickers used on some riders helmets.
28132 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 93 / Friday, May 13, 2011 / Rules and Regulations
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration
49 CFR Part 571
[Docket No. NHTSA–2011–0050]
RIN 2127–AK15
Federal Motor Vehicle Safety
Standards; Motorcycle Helmets
AGENCY: National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration (NHTSA), DOT.
ACTION: Final rule.
SUMMARY: This final rule amends the
Federal motor vehicle safety standard
that specifies performance requirements
for motorcycle helmets to reduce
traumatic brain injury and other types of
head injury. Some of the amendments
will help to increase the benefits of that
standard by making it easier for State
and local law enforcement officials to
enforce State laws requiring the use of
helmets meeting that standard. Some
motorcyclists use noncompliant helmets
known as novelty helmets. These
helmets are not certified to the agency’s
helmet standard and have been shown
in testing to fail all or almost all of the
safety performance requirements in that
standard. Some novelty helmet users
attempt to make their helmets appear to
law enforcement agencies and the courts
to be compliant by misleadingly
attaching labels that have the
appearance of legitimate ‘‘DOT’’
certification labels. This final rule
revises the existing requirements for the
‘‘DOT’’ certification label and other
labels and adds new requirements to
make it more difficult to label novelty
helmets misleadingly.
The other amendments will aid
NHTSA in enforcing the standard by
setting reasonable tolerances for certain
test conditions, devices and procedures.
Specifically, this final rule sets a quasistatic
load application rate for the
helmet retention system; revises the
impact attenuation test by specifying
test velocity and tolerance limits and
removing the drop height test
specification; provides tolerances for the
helmet conditioning specifications and
drop assembly weights; and revises
requirements related to size labeling and
location of the DOT symbol.
DATES: The final rule is effective May
13, 2013. The incorporation by reference
of certain publications listed in the rule
is approved by the Director of the
Federal Register as of May 13, 2013.
28132 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 93 / Friday, May 13, 2011 / Rules and Regulations
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration
49 CFR Part 571
[Docket No. NHTSA–2011–0050]
RIN 2127–AK15
Federal Motor Vehicle Safety
Standards; Motorcycle Helmets
AGENCY: National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration (NHTSA), DOT.
ACTION: Final rule.
SUMMARY: This final rule amends the
Federal motor vehicle safety standard
that specifies performance requirements
for motorcycle helmets to reduce
traumatic brain injury and other types of
head injury. Some of the amendments
will help to increase the benefits of that
standard by making it easier for State
and local law enforcement officials to
enforce State laws requiring the use of
helmets meeting that standard. Some
motorcyclists use noncompliant helmets
known as novelty helmets. These
helmets are not certified to the agency’s
helmet standard and have been shown
in testing to fail all or almost all of the
safety performance requirements in that
standard. Some novelty helmet users
attempt to make their helmets appear to
law enforcement agencies and the courts
to be compliant by misleadingly
attaching labels that have the
appearance of legitimate ‘‘DOT’’
certification labels. This final rule
revises the existing requirements for the
‘‘DOT’’ certification label and other
labels and adds new requirements to
make it more difficult to label novelty
helmets misleadingly.
The other amendments will aid
NHTSA in enforcing the standard by
setting reasonable tolerances for certain
test conditions, devices and procedures.
Specifically, this final rule sets a quasistatic
load application rate for the
helmet retention system; revises the
impact attenuation test by specifying
test velocity and tolerance limits and
removing the drop height test
specification; provides tolerances for the
helmet conditioning specifications and
drop assembly weights; and revises
requirements related to size labeling and
location of the DOT symbol.
DATES: The final rule is effective May
13, 2013. The incorporation by reference
of certain publications listed in the rule
is approved by the Director of the
Federal Register as of May 13, 2013.
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