It is unclear whether increased demands for impact management for severe impacts may result in helmets which transmit unacceptably high levels of shock in more frequent, lower severity crash incidents. This study investigates how two different helmet test standards, reflecting different demands of impact management, affect helmet protective performance in impacts at varying levels of severity.

Fifteen different helmet models;​ seven of which were certified to both Snell M2010 and DOT (M2010/DOT), and eight of which were certified only to DOT (DOT‐only), were considered. Eight identical samples of each model were tested in single impacts at four standard sites on the helmet shell;​ four in flat impact and four in hemispherical at one of four impact velocities:​ 3, 5, 8 and 10 (9 for the hemisphere) m/sec.

In statistical analysis of those samples appropriate for the ISO J (57 cm) head form, significant differences (p <0.05) were found only when comparing peak decelerations at impact velocities exceeding 8 m/sec for both flat impact and for hemispherical impact, the results support that M2010/DOT helmets transmit equivalent shock to that of DOT‐only helmets in minor impacts. The results further demonstrate that the M2010/DOT helmets have significantly superior impact management in higher severity impacts.