Poor helmet may have cost motorcyclist his life

[p.dath]

You can buy a DOT approved skull cap, which means it is legally approved for use in NZ (needs a little sticker on it still ...).

So the simple fact that the rider was wearing a skull cap does not mean it wasn't an approved helmet.

[Oscar]

according to the article it's because he had a sticker on his helmet!!! that's what killed him

Being more worried about how he looked, than accepting the fact that the road is a dangerous place cost him any chance of survival.

[FJRider]

I wonder about this $10 helmet thing. I have an HJC helmet. As far as I'm aware, at $129 new, it's bottom of the range. I don't feel unsafe in it though. Upgrading my helmet is on my to do list.

I often see "Good Looking" helmets in second hand places for $10 or thereabouts. Riders die wearing $1000 helmets ... go figure

You take the protection you decide you need/afford. End results may vary ..

[FJRider]

So, the cause of this bikers death was a substandard helmet? How about the truck that pulled out in front of him being a contributing factor?

That has NO relevance at all. As it was a Motorcycle accident ... NOT a Truck accident ...

[p.dath]

There is one problem with DOT standards. DOT standard approval is self policed.

Any manufacturer can decide on any testing regime they like, with any quality control system, and call their helmet DOT certified. There is no independent auditing or testing process.

So I could build a helmet tonight out of wood, and call it DOT certified.


The DOT certification is only as good as the trust you place in the manufacturer to comply with the standard.

[FJRider]

Only problem I have with that is often the decision is not an informed one, if they are making an informed decision then it is personal choice. Of course then you get to "none so deaf ..." but in that case the information is their they make a choice not to use it. I am more concerned about those that a mis-lead into the wrong choices.

Does "Informed" equate to actual education. Or equate to mere personal "Choice" .. ???

Knowing what may happen ... is not always what will happen. Together with "It wont happen to me" attitude ... makes us invincible.

I know of a rider that wears (wore) thin leather gloves (not even motorcycle gloves) and heated grips on the grounds of comfort. Then on his first off gravel rashed both palms on his first off. Would anybody really believe THAT couldn't happen ... ??? Should somebody have "informed" him it could .. ???

Another can of worms to open ... are race leathers suitable/safe for road use .. ???

[FJRider]

There is one problem with DOT standards. DOT standard approval is self policed.

Any manufacturer can decide on any testing regime they like, with any quality control system, and call their helmet DOT certified. There is no independent auditing or testing process.

So I could build a helmet tonight out of wood, and call it DOT certified.


The DOT certification is only as good as the trust you place in the manufacturer to comply with the standard.

In the interest of education for all.

http://www.nhtsa.gov/people/injury/p...ages/page2.htm

[HenryDorsetCase]

I wonder about this $10 helmet thing. I have an HJC helmet. As far as I'm aware, at $129 new, it's bottom of the range. I don't feel unsafe in it though. Upgrading my helmet is on my to do list.

It appears this guy was wearing one of those shorty skullcap types favoured by sons of anarchy wannabes.

[Scuba_Steve]

It appears this guy was wearing one of those shorty skullcap types favoured by sons of anarchy wannabes.

Apparently alot of people with these skull caps only have WWII type not ones made for bikes; not saying this is the case here but people do it.

[merv]

The Germans never won the war in helmets like that either.

[oneofsix]

Think this is what they meant by skull cap


and this by German style

[Katman]

You can buy a DOT approved skull cap, which means it is legally approved for use in NZ (needs a little sticker on it still ...).

So the simple fact that the rider was wearing a skull cap does not mean it wasn't an approved helmet.

And in the interest of further education (and being directly applicable to New Zealand).....

http://www.nzta.govt.nz/resources/ro...ight-gear.html

The DOT safety standard only applies to helmets manufactured and purchased in the States.

[FJRider]

The DOT safety standard only applies to helmets manufactured and purchased in the States.

But ... but ... but ... we as Kiwi's only object to the NZ government following Aussie legislation. As we can make our own (legislative) decisions ... right. And Aussie conditions are so different to our own ...

And the Yanks make cooler looking gear too ...

Right ... ???



Or have I got it wrong ... again ...

[gloplg]

I wonder if the "accident" would have happened at all had the motorcyclist chosen to make himself more visible to other road users????

[kinger]

Perhaps he'd been turned away from a Ulysses run and lost the safety in numbers.
Another can of worms.......