An official website of the United States government.
Evaluation of Motorcycle Helmet Test Procedures
Motorcycle helmets, specifies minimum performance requirements for helmets designed for use by motorcyclists and other motor vehicle users. FMVSS No. 218 includes three performance test types that have remained largely unchanged since it was first published in 1973: an impact attenuation test, a penetration test, and a retention system test. In 2013 NHTSA initiated a helmet testing research program with compliance test labs. Based upon this testing, adjustments were made to the test procedures and were evaluated in this study. In continuation of NHTSA’s motorcycle helmet research, the testing described in this report aimed to achieve the following: (1) assess the feasibility of conducting modified FMVSS No. 218 tests and other performance tests, and refining test procedures as necessary; and (2) evaluate the repeatability of each of the modified test procedures assessed.