Many avid motorcyclists are familiar with West Virginia’s helmet laws. But if you are new to the bike, you may be wondering what you need to do to comply with the law. In today’s post, we’ll help you understand what the law is and how to follow it.

The state of West Virginia does require all motorcyclists to wear a helmet while riding. However, you cannot wear just any helmet when you are out on the road. In order to be in compliance with the law, you must wear a helmet that has been approved by the Department of Transportation.

You are probably now wondering how to tell if a helmet is DOT-approved. The main way to tell is if the helmet has a sticker on it that says “DOT.” It could also say “DOT FMVSS No. 218 Certified.” Helmets that have Snell or ANSI stickers on them are also likely DOT-approved.

Once you have found a helmet that meets the federal standards, it is important to make sure it is a good fit for you and free of defects. Try it on before you buy to make sure it is not too loose or too tight. Before you buy any helmet, make sure to look it over for cracks or other damage that could keep it from protecting you when you need it to.

Now that you know how to properly pick out an approved helmet, we hope that you take some time to enjoy the rest of the summer on your bike.

Source: West Virginia Department of Transportation, “Motorcycle Helmets,” Accessed Aug. 4, 2015