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In news that should surprise exactly nobody, an investigation by CBC Marketplace has discovered motorcycle helmets sold online with what appear to be counterfeit safety rating stickers.
CBC Marketplace is a consumer-oriented program from the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, which is Canada’s state broadcaster. It’s run this sort of story before, buying products online to expose fakes, but this time it’s narrowed its focus to motorcycle helmets. See the results below:
For this story, CBC had helmets tested from third-party sellers on Amazon, eBay and Walmart (if you’ve shopped online, you know the type, often piggybacking on other established retail sites to sell products). They had DOT stickers, which implied certification from the US Department of Transportation. That’s generally required in the US and Canada, in jurisdictions that legislate helmet usage.
When CBC sent these helmets off for independent testing, many failed, which certainly seems to indicate the DOT ratings were faked.
Plot twist!
However, if you’ve been around the bike scene for a while, you probably know that the DOT motorcycle helmet standard itself has questions about its safety. FortNine put together an excellent video about the subject a few years back. Watch it, and consider its findings…
Another plot twist!
…And after you’ve watched FortNine’s video above, then ask yourself: Should we instead always wear Snell-rated helmets?
FortNine looks at that question below:
So. You pay your money, and you take your choice. However, if you are indeed laying down cash on a new helmet, it does seem prudent to consider your needs and spend wisely on a manufacturer with enough ethics to test their products properly.
The post CBC Finds Moto Helmets With Counterfeit Safety Ratings appeared first on Adventure Rider.
