Your right Soren and thanks for the link to the DOT "Standard" as the article in the lead post indicates, kind of erroniously that the DOT standard is no standard, actually what the Gov says is they don't "Apporve" or Diss-approve" of helmets, that is the liability of the manufacturer. The government does set a standard for them to meet as laid out in the referances to FMVSS 218. The Snell rating is one that they hope exceeds the DOT Standard and that has been brought into question by former Snell people (scientists or engineers)
Like the Standard says regarding the label: "The symbol DOT, constituting the manufacturer's certification that the helmet conforms to the applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards." FMVSS 218 S5.6.1e
Helmets that pass DOT standard have a purpose of decreacing the death and brain injury rate in accident. So, your in better shape with one than without one or one that doesn't pass either.
IMHO
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