DOT is not like what most people think. Helmet manufacturers do not send a helmet into a DOT testing facility to get their stamp of approval. DOT is just a guideline that manufactures are supposed to follow.
That's why you see some ad's for Crazy AL's worlds smallest DOT helmet. I just went to training on Arai helmets. Bought myself one after seeing how they are made. My head is worth the $850 price tag. Plus it is light, comfortable, quiet. The airflow inside is better than the Nolan helmet it replaced and any other helmet that I had worn.

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DOT is not like what most people think. Helmet manufacturers do not send a helmet into a DOT testing facility to get their stamp of approval. DOT is just a guideline that manufactures are supposed to follow.

I'd phrase it a little different.DOT FMVSS 218 certification lets the helmet manufacturer know how their helmet will be tested and a prudent manufacturer will design to meet/exceed. The surprising part is the testing side is random (e.g. kind of like random drug testing in professional sports), and when one is selected for testing then 5 helmets are procured and sent to the DOT's independent test labs.

They have a database for consumers to check to make sure it's not a fake sticker on the helmet. Both my HJC and Shoei have DOT stickers, but only the Shoei has been randomly tested in 2022.

Haven't had a bike since about 1987. Before the internet Got my info from magazines,
Guns and ammo, motorcycle mags fishing etc. I bought a fullface Bell, thankfully I
never needed it.

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Originally posted by Fly-Sig:
The argument that helmets degrade with age is not relevant to the price vs safety issue. Any 10 yr old helmet is likely a lot less protective than it was when new.

I did not make the argument that helmets simply degrade with age. I made the argument that a old degraded expensive helmet is not better for safety than a "brand new" cheap helmet, but that people are hesitant to discard old helmets that cost a lot, while they they are far less likely to be so hesitant to replace cheaper helmets regularly before age degradation becomes a serious issue. I don't denounce people though who do keep an old helmet. I have a expensive-for-me-helmet about 7 years old that I won't get rid of and still wear a lot even though I know it's probably not near as safe because of the age. Why? Because it's broken in and super comfortable, it's still visually perfect, it looked cool when I got it and it still looks cool. So yes, I too hate the idea that my favorite helmet is less safe..

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However, it is fair to say that if given the choice between some random $100 helmet or a random $900 helmet, it is almost certainly true that the more expensive one is more protective.

I would like to think so too, however it seems there is no real statistical evidence for that assuming the same style of helmet and same certification. I do emphasize the "same certifications" for helmets (DOT vs DOT, Snell vs Snell, etc). I don't count those fake half helmets as anything but getting around helmet laws with as little as possible.