NHTSA Helmet Test Results
These figures were obtained from the NHTSA directly and should give you some insight into the possibilities of buying a helmet that has failed Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 218. As defined by FMVSS 218, testing requires 4 helmets of each model for testing at different temperatures and one under water. The nature of the testing leaves all helmets totally destroyed.
So the next time you are told by a law officer or court that your helmet is not in compliance, unless they have an actual recall, test data from NHTSA or an objective independent laboratory, eye-balling a helment does not come close to meeting the FMVSS 218 testing standard.
Year | # Tested | Failed | Passed |
1980 | 162 | 99 | 63 |
1981 | 103 | 50 | 53 |
1982 | a | ||
1983 | a | ||
1984 | 32 | 11 | 21 |
1985 | 32 | 32 | 0 |
1986 | 30 | 30 | 0 |
1987 | 0 | ||
1988 | 0 | ||
1989 | 30 | 24 | 6 |
1990 | 30 | 26 | 4 |
1991 | 47 | 31 | 16 |
1992 | 30 | 23 | 7 |
1993 | 31 | 20 | 11 |
1994 | 167 | 128 | 39 |
TOTALS: | 694 | 474 | 220 |
100% | 68% | 31% | |
a – Test results were not submitted |