When selecting a helmet, it is important that all of the following are true, except:

To ensure that you have a helmet that will provide the best possible protection, you should choose one that meets U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) standards. It should fit snugly all the way around and have no obvious defects, such as cracks, loose padding, or frayed straps.

• The helmet is DOT-compliant.
• The helmet looks nice.
• The helmet fits snugly.
• The helmet does not have any defects.