The Snell Sticker Standard

Iowa remains one of only three states that do not have laws on the books mandating the use of motorcycle helmets, but that does not mean that riding without a helmet is the safest or best choice for every motorcyclist. Helmets are the most effective means of reducing the fatality rate and brain injury in the event of a motorcycle accident, so wearing a helmet is certainly worthy of consideration. But not all helmets are created equally, and it is important that you have a good understanding of the potential variance in safety and quality.

The United States Department of Transportation has established standards that must be met by a helmet to permit legal sale to the public for street use. This helmet standard is the only one that has legal bearing in the U.S. – remember that helmets are optional in Iowa – but it is not the most rigorous certification that is available to helmet makers. That distinction belongs to the attainment of a Snell sticker, and sometimes that sticker may mean the difference between life and death.

The Non-Sticker Difference

One of the chief differentiations between DOT standards and Snell Certification is in who actually performs the tests that determine whether or not a motorcycle helmet qualifies. All of the tests and evaluative assessments for DOT standards are performed by the helmet makers themselves. They are at liberty to claim that a product meets the criteria based on their own internal testing, a system that seems almost laughable.

The Snell Memorial Foundation has its own technicians that test each helmet in-house according to more rigorous standards. Snell stickers are not issued unless the manufacturer grants the right to purchase and review samples of the product on an ongoing basis, to check for slacking production efforts. The only way to be reasonably confident that the helmet you are purchasing is as safe as possible is to look for the Snell sticker.

Contact Us

If you have sustained injuries due to a defective motorcycle helmet, contact Iowa motorcycle helmet lawyer Pete Leehey at 877-209-9452. There can be no guarantees, but if a helmet fails to meet its stated capacities and intended purpose, then a legal action may be the best option for you.