Speeding. Illegal modifications. Drag racing at traffic lights. Many things can land you in trouble with the law on a motorbike. But what about your helmet? Do you know your motorcycle helmet laws? Laws aren’t here to hinder riders but instead protect and improve safety. How and where these laws apply to your helmet might keep you out of hot water and in the loop surrounding the latest standards for safety.

DOT (Department of Transportation) is the safety approval mark set out by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. DOT tests in four different ways: impact attenuation test, penetration test, retention strap test and peripheral vision. The aim is to replicate riding conditions to the max. All of Ruroc’s helmets surpass DOT regulations.

Laws in Europe are universal. Every country in the EU requires you to wear a motorcycle helmet that complies with ECE 22.06. The ECE is Europe’s motorcycle helmet testing regulator. The ECE looks to test 6 elements: Linear impact absorption, rotational impact absorption, penetration resistance, fit/positional stability, visibility, and robust retention. Testing these elements of helmet design pushes manufacturers to create safer and stronger helmets for riders.

Will my ECE 22.05 still be a legal helmet?

Yes! ECE 22.05 helmets are still road legal. All helmets made after January 2024 must be ECE 22.06, but helmets are still legal if you bought yours before then. All of the helmets made at Ruroc follow ECE 22.06 because we are committed to being ahead of the curve when it comes to safety.

Additional motorcycle helmet certification levels.

The US and UK governments recognise DOT and ECE as official certifiers for safety. However, should you want to race or have an additional safety certification for peace of mind, there are other motorcycle helmet safety ratings and laws to follow.

ACU approval

The ACU is the Auto Cycle Union. They award certification for helmets that want to race on a track in the UK. Through their testing process, helmets that meet their standards, like the ATLAS 4.0 TRACK, are awarded ACU gold approval. 

FIM approval

The FIM is the main governing body for international motorsports. In order to compete in FIM races, like Moto GP, helmets must be submitted to the FIM for testing. Once accepted, the helmet becomes part of the FIM homologation programme and is open to race in FIM events.

SNELL approval

SNELL is a non-profit organisation set up to improve crash helmet safety, created after the death of motorsport racer Peter Snell. SNELL certification is not required by law. Still, many riders consider SNELL one of the best standards in helmet safety.

SHARP approval

SHARP is not a safety certification. The British government performs SHARP on helmets that have already received ECE certification. Instead of providing approval SHARP, uses its own data from testing to assign a rating out of 5.

How to keep your helmet legal?

Don’t buy fake helmets!

Look out for fakes! Unfortunately, fake helmets are out on the market, along with false safety certifications. If the helmet appears much cheaper than expected, looks tacky or from a dodgy website, it could be fake. It’s always worth double-checking through the manufacturer if anything seems out of place.

Likewise, with certification, stickers are easy to counterfeit too. Check under the liner or on helmet tags for certification as additional proof against a fake.

How to check motorcycle helmet expiry date? 

Having an expired helmet isn’t illegal, but it is dangerous. The EPS liner in your helmet will dry up over time until it becomes rock solid. Once this happens, it loses its ability to absorb shock damage.

To check if your helmet is in date, the manufacturing sticker should be under the helmet’s liner. It’s worth checking next time you buy a helmet, just in case it's been on the shelf for a few years. If it’s been there longer than five years, it’s probably not worth your time.

All of the helmets at Ruroc are DOT and ECE-approved. Meeting these strict standards for safety pushes us to create industry-defining designs with your safety at the forefront of our minds.