Law & Order

Feds to Regulate Novelty Motorcycle Helmets

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued a proposed rule to define “motorcycle helmets” and thereby regulate novelty helmets (commonly referred to as “skullcaps” and “beanies”) that are sold and worn for highway use. The rule would also add a set of dimensional and compression requirements to the existing performance requirements for motorcycle helmets under Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 218. The NHTSA would provide an alternative compliance process for manufacturers whose helmets do not comply with the proposed dimensional and compression requirements, but otherwise comply with the other FMVSS No. 218 requirements. 

For more information, contact Stuart Gosswein at stuartg@sema.org.