I don’t have to tell you about the benefits of wearing a helmet while driving, right? The biggest benefit of wearing a helmet that everybody knows is the safety. But the question that arises is what is the motorcycle helmet safety rating? And which helmet safety standards are the safest in the world? Because there are plenty of helmets with different ratings available in the market.

In this article, I am not only going to tell you the answers to these questions but I will also tell you what are the helmet standards in India. Moreover, I am going to tell you whether DOT or ECE certified helmets are banned in India or not.

So without any further ado, let’s get started!

Why There Is A Need For Motor Cycle Helmet Safety Ratings?

Helmet Safety Ratings are required so that you can know whether the helmet will save you in the incident of a crash or not.

Before we look into different helmet safety ratings that are there around the world, let me first tell you why there is a need for such ratings.

Well, there are a lot of motorcycle helmet manufacturers around the world. Some of them make helmets with the aim of saving the rider in case of an accident. While some make them just to fill up their pockets.

So the question that arises is, how can we as a customer can know whether the helmet will save us in the crash or not? And how can we trust a company to make safer helmets?

This is what the helmet safety rating is for. It tells us that this helmet is safer to wear and this is not. By looking at the safety ratings of a motorcycle helmet, you can know whether it will save you or not in case of a crash. Because if a helmet has a safety rating then it means that it has passed some rigorous testing that has been done on it according to that rating.

Motorcycle Helmet Safety Rating

There are majorly 5 safety ratings that are widely accepted and popular around the world and these are:

• ISI
• DOT
• ECE
• SHARP
• SNELL

Now, that you know why motorcycle helmet safety rating is important, let me now tell you about the different motorcycle helmet safety ratings around the world.

1) ISI – Indian Helmet Safety Standards

ISI stands for Indian Standard Institute. As its name suggests, it is the government approved organization that tests and certifies motorcycle helmets in India. All the helmets that are sold and worn in India need to have an ISI rating.

It is illegal to sell non ISI rated helmets in India. And if you are found to be wearing a helmet that is not ISI certified then you will have to pay a fine.

Having said that ISI motorcycle safety standards are not the safest in the world. And you will even find a ₹300 helmet with an ISI rating.

2) DOT

The DOT helmet safety standards are followed in the United States. If you live in the US then you need to wear a helmet that is DOT certified. The full form of DOT is the Department Of Transportation. It tests motorcycle helmets for different parameters and then issues the certification.

The certification process consists of various tests including impact resistance, penetration resistance, height test, field of view, etc. Once the helmet passes all these tests then it is given a DOT helmet safety rating.

The cheapest DOT certified helmet in India is the Vega Bolt Bunny, which costs somewhere around ₹1600 – 2000 online. In fact, it is one of the best helmets under 2000 that you can buy right now.

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3) ECE – European Motorcycle Helmet Safety Ratings

ECE is the motorcycle helmet safety rating that is followed in all European countries. It stands for the Economic Commission Of Europe.

ECE is considered to be one of the most comprehensive and advanced helmet safety testing in the world. It puts helmets to different and rigorous tests. These tests include:

• Abrasion testings
• Impact testing
• Shell rigidity
• Chin strap testing, and whatnot.

ECE motorcycle safety standards are also followed in some Asian and South American countries as well.

The cheapest ECE certified helmet in India is the full face street helmet by Royal Enfield. This helmet costs around ₹2200 online.

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4) SHARP Motorcycle Helmet Safety Rating

SHARP stands for Safety Helmet Assessment And Rating Program. This set of standards is followed in the countries of the United Kingdom (UK). Unlike other safety rating systems, SHARP rates helmets on the basis of the safety that they provide. So it not only tells you that the helmet is certified but also tells you which one is the safest.

For eg. a five star safety rated helmet will be safer than a 4 start and so on.

SHARP is actually a very good motorcycle helmet safety rating system. However, it is not as popular as DOT and ECE safety standards.

5) SNELL Motorcycle Helmet Safety Ratings

The last helmet safety rating that is widely popular around the world is SNELL. SNELL Memorial Foundation was founded in 1957 in the United States. It is a non-profit organization that is working to make helmets safer every day.

Snell is considered to be the most stringent helmet safety standard in the world. The tests conducted by Snell are considered to be the most stringent and rigorous as compared to other safety ratings that we have discussed so far. It also performs the most number of tests on a motorcycle helmet in order to give it a Snell certification.

So if you want the highest safety rating motorcycle helmet then look for the Snell certified helmets.

However, Snell-certified motorcycle helmets are not easily available in India. And the cheapest one that you can get your hands on is offered by HJC. You will have to shell out around ₹10k to buy this helmet.

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What Are The Helmet Safety Standards In India?

The motorcycle helmet safety standards that are followed in India are governed by ISI (Indian Standard Institute). All the helmets sold in India must comply with the ISI helmet safety rating.

Wearing or selling Helmets that are not ISI certified is a punishable offense. So next time you are in the market to buy a new helmet then do not forget to check the ISI mark.

Is DOT & ECE Helmet Banned In India?

No, DOT & ECE certified helmet is not banned in India. You can wear a DOT & ECE certified helmet as long as it is also certified by ISI. As discussed wearing a non ISI helmet is a punishable offense so you cannot really wear a helmet that is only DOT or ECE certified.

Indian government only recognizes helmets that are ISI certified. So if you are wearing a helmet that has DOT and ECE certification but does not have ISI certification then you will have to pay a fine. This is ironic because an ECE or DOT certified helmet will be far superior to an ISI certified helmet.

If you want the highest safety rating motorcycle helmet then consider buying the one that has all three certifications. You can easily have all three certifications in helmets under 5000 in India nowadays.

FAQs

Which Is Better DOT Or ECE?

ECE is considered to be the more advanced and comprehensive motorcycle helmet safety rating of the two.

What Is The Standard For Motorcycle Helmets?

There are different safety standards for motorcycle helmets used around the world. ISI helmet safety rating is used in India, DOT is used in the United States, and ECE is used in European countries.

What Safety Rating Should A Motorcycle Helmet Have?

In India, motorcycle helmets should have ISI certified safety rating.

What Type Of Helmet Is Best For Safety?

Full face helmets are the best when safety is concerned.

Is ECE Safety Rating Better Than DOT?

Yes, the ECE motorcycle helmet safety rating is considered to be better than DOT.