From handlebars to helmets, purchasing a motorcycle can be overwhelming. New riders often ask themselves: Which bike should I buy? How much does it cost to own a motorcycle? However, one of the most important—and frequently overlooked—questions is crucial in ensuring rider safety: What about my helmet?
Maginnis Howard proudly supports and partners with motorcyclists across North Carolina from our Raleigh, Charlotte, and Fayetteville offices. We’ve seen firsthand that wearing the right helmet can turn a potentially life-changing injury into a minor accident.
We have gathered some of the most frequently asked questions regarding motorcycle helmet laws, safety, and purchasing. Whether you are buying your first helmet or your hundredth, here’s what every biker needs to know about this essential piece of protective equipment:
1) North Carolina Motorcycle Helmet Law
Since 1968, North Carolina has adopted a strict universal helmet law. This means that all operators and passengers on motorcycles and mopeds must wear helmets that comply with the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 218 (FMVSS 218).
FMVSS 218 is a federal regulation that sets motorcycle helmet safety requirements. Any helmet sold in the US for a motorcycle must meet specific standards for:
- Helmet Visibility: A rider’s ability to see through the helmet must be tested and unimpaired. This helps to minimize blind spots and ensure the rider’s field of vision is clear.
- Impact Absorption and Attenuation: The law requires helmet manufacturers to test a helmet’s ability to absorb and distribute the energy of a potential impact. Impact absorption can significantly help a rider minimize personal injuries if an accident occurs.
- Penetration Resistance: If you’ve ever knocked your foot against a helmet, you know the tough outer shell can hurt quite a bit! This is because helmets are designed with high penetration resistance. Manufacturers use durable materials like polycarbonate and fiberglass to ensure the shell prevents objects from penetrating the helmet during a crash.
- Retention System Strength: Even the best helmets are useless if they don’t stay on your head. FMVSS 218 requires manufacturers to test that their helmets remain secured to riders’ heads. Many brands make helmets in different sizes and styles to fit the needs of every biker or passenger.
2) The Key Components of a Safe Motorcycle Helmet
According to the North Carolina Department of Transportation, a motorcycle helmet that is road-ready needs to have three key components:
- A Thick Inner Lining: All helmets must have a thick inner lining of polystyrene foam about 1 inch thick. Many helmets cover this with a liner for comfort, but riders can still feel the thickness of the material when wearing the helmet. This thick inner lining helps to protect the rider from the impact of a crash and can be the difference between life and death. Some cheaper helmets may not contain this liner and instead have a thin piece of foam in its place. These helmets are not only illegal to wear while riding, but they are also ineffective.
- A Department of Transportation (DOT) Sticker: When a manufacturer has met the legal requirements and safety standards set by the Department of Transportation (DOT), they will print a DOT compliance sticker on their helmets. This is an easy way for consumers to identify which products are qualified to use.
- A Manufacturer’s Label: Like any product, customers need to know who manufactures the helmet they purchase; thus, the manufacturer must print a label directly onto the helmet itself.
3) Matching your Head Shape to a Motorcycle Helmet
Just like buying a new pair of shoes, it’s essential to understand the shape of your head before purchasing a helmet. The correct helmet shape ensures a comfortable and secure fit.
But how do I know what shape my head is? MotoSport defines the three most common head shapes to consider when helmet-shopping.
- Long Oval – Shaped for a head that is longer front-to-back than side-to-side.
- Intermediate Oval – Shaped for a head that is slightly longer front-to-back than side-to-side. Most motorcycle helmets fall into this category as they are the most common head shape.
- Round Oval – Shaped for a head with roughly equal front-to-back and side-to-side measurements.
4) The Size of your Head
Next, you need to determine your head size. You can measure it at home with a tape measure, but have another person take the measurements for the best results.
Wrap the measuring tape around the fullest part of your head. This is slightly above your ears and about a half-inch above your eyebrows. Then, measure the forehead. Most manufacturers have a sizing chart on their website to compare your measurements. If you can’t find one or have further questions, don’t hesitate to call the business and ask. The effort of finding the right-sized helmet makes it worth the price and time commitment.
5) The Best Additional Helmet Features
Besides offering additional protection when riding, the modern motorcycle helmet offers many impressive and convenient features to help riders of any experience get more from every ride they take. Some of the most popular additional features include:
- Bluetooth Connectivity
- Quick Release Buckles
- Unique Decals and Designs
- Fog Shields
- Sun Visors
- Reflective Shields
- Helmet Cameras
These additional features ensure you can enjoy your ride the way you want while staying in compliance with the law.
Contact Us
Motorcycle accidents happen every day in North Carolina. Wearing a helmet and complying with safety laws doesn’t guarantee you can completely avoid injury. If you or someone you know has been injured in an accident, contact us at Maginnis Howard for a consultation.
We can help you understand your legal options and get you the compensation you deserve. We have three conveniently located offices in Raleigh, Charlotte, and Fayetteville offering free consultations.
