Check Your Helmet!
April marks an important month for bikers and motorcycle safety — Check Your Helmet Month! Check Your Helmet Month is an initiative to ensure bikers have the highest quality of safety with respect to their helmets.
You want to have a safe helmet in the event it needs to save your life. Here are some tips and reminders:
- Aging – If your helmet is not damaged and was never dropped, be sure to replace it every 3-5 years. Basic use and UV rays from those long, sunny rides can reduce the protective quality of your helmet after a while. Also, be sure to check with your local motorcycle dealership for helmet trade-in offers in April. Some dealers offer up to 15% off your next helmet purchase with a trade-in.
- Impact – Crashes or even one drop can cause serious damage to the protective quality of your helmet. Even if there are no visible signs of damage, replace your helmet immediately if any impact occurs.
- Fit and Function – For the best fit, your helmet should rest about one inch above your eyebrows and should NOT roll forward or sideways when you move. Many dealers with apparel stores will help you find the proper fit if you ask! For function, check your local and state laws to make sure your helmet meets the minimum safety standards. You can also do this by looking for DOT stickers on the inside or outside of the helmet. Having this sticker ensures that your helmet has passed its tests for impact, penetration, retention and peripheral vision.
Finally, make sure that your helmet is never exposed to insect repellents, gasoline, excessive heat or other harmful liquids and fumes. Exposure to harsh chemicals can degrade the helmet’s protective materials. This is true even if there are no visible signs of damage.
For more information on protection and helmet suggestions, check out this flyer by the Motorcycle Safety Foundation and the MotoUSA blog.
Have any other important information to share regarding helmets? Let us know in the comments.
