Which federal agency sets standards for consumer products like bicycle helmets?

• A. Regulates highways and traffic
• B. Oversees medical devices
• C. Sets safety standards for consumer products
• D. Enforces environmental laws

Answer: (C)

Setting safety rules for everyday items is the job of the federal agency that writes and enforces standards manufacturers must meet to keep products safe. The agency that does this for consumer products, including bicycle helmets, is the Consumer Product Safety Commission. It creates safety standards, tests products, and can require recalls if items don’t meet those standards. For bicycle helmets, this means there are specific safety requirements helmets must satisfy before they can be sold. The other options describe roles that don’t address general consumer product safety: regulating highways and traffic is handled by transportation agencies, medical devices are overseen by the FDA, and environmental laws are enforced by the EPA.