How Many States Have Helmet Laws For Motorcycles – Mandatory helmet laws in the United States. The 50 states have very different helmet laws. Let’s get straight to the point.
Helmet laws are a source of controversy for many riders. Without national laws requiring hard hats or helmets (despite the CDC’s efforts), we have laws that seem random depending on where you live. If you wear a helmet. Always covered (literally and figuratively), but if you want to feel the wind in your hair, it’s hard to know where you can and can’t legally do so. Let’s get straight to the point.
How Many States Have Helmet Laws For Motorcycles
Some say that every rider should wear a helmet everywhere, for their own safety and to reduce the burden on the healthcare industry. Others say that helmets are good, but it should be an individual’s right to wear them or not. However, some say there should be no helmet rule. Living on the border between Massachusetts (a state with a universal helmet law) and New Hampshire (no helmet law), I always see motorcycles stop at the state line. The north rider takes off his hat and the front horse puts it on. If you decide to remove the brain bowl, you should know that Johnny Law will let you do it.
Missouri On Track To Change State Helmet Laws
Helmet laws fall into four general categories: required for everyone, required for everyone under 21, required for everyone under 18, and not required at all. Many countries have special requirements for passengers, such as having a motorcycle under 50 cm or without a helmet, must have health insurance. Helmets must be worn in alphabetical order by state below.
It may surprise some to learn that only 19 states and Washington, D.C., have universal helmet laws. Older riders may be surprised to learn that in 1967, the federal government forced states to pass helmet laws in order to qualify for federal safety programs and road construction funds. By the early 1970s, almost all states had such laws, but as the decades passed, states were able to refuse the Department of Transportation funding for helmet laws.
However, only three states—Illinois, Iowa, and New Hampshire—have no helmet laws at all. Most states have laws requiring young riders (and in Colorado, young passengers) to wear helmets.
Some states require their riders to have minimum health insurance coverage to avoid wearing helmets. Options vary from state to state and are constantly changing. In Texas, for example, law enforcement agencies are prohibited from stopping riders without helmets only to make sure their insurance meets the requirements, but the state is trying to change that.
Colorado Motorcycle Helmet Laws 2024
We got the information for this list from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, which lists the most recent helmet laws on its website. If you’re traveling across several states and want to go bare-headed, check out this list before you go so you know where you can and can’t legally — at least before the laws change again this week. Alabama law requires everyone who rides or rides a motorcycle to wear a helmet designed for passengers when riding a motorcycle. The law requires helmets to have a hard outer shell that is impact and penetration resistant with non-degradable materials. Helmets must have a safe shock-absorbing cradle for the head to support the helmet and maintain separation between the head and the outer shell. The helmet pad must be impact resistant, absorbent, and thick enough for all areas where the head may come in contact with the outer shell. Helmets should be made of durable materials that do not change with age. Do not use ingredients that cause skin irritation or illness.
Helmets should also have a chin strap that can be fastened at all times to ensure a secure fit. By law, all drivers and passengers must wear a chin strap when riding a bicycle. Helmets are not required to have a visor, but if present, it must be elastic or clip-on and cannot protrude more than a quarter of an inch from the surface or outer shell. An exception to Alabama’s helmet law is for riders of sidecars with cabs.
A person 18 or older cannot be required to wear a helmet while riding a motorcycle in Alaska unless they have a motorcycle license.
However, if the motorcycle does not have a windshield or windshield, motorcycle riders must wear eye protection.
Motorcycle Helmet Laws Save Lives, Study Shows
These laws are established and administered by the Alaska Commissioner of Public Safety. Because these standards and specifications are subject to change, it is a good idea to check with the commissioner before riding a motorcycle in Alaska as a driver or passenger.
Also, unless the bike is equipped with a protective windshield, all riders and drivers, regardless of age, must wear safety glasses, goggles, or a clear face shield.
Arkansas law requires motorcycle riders and passengers under the age of 21 to wear helmets. The helmet requirement does not apply to tricycles equipped with a twenty horsepower (20 horsepower) cab and windshield when the motorcycle is used by a city police department.
Everyone who drives a car or rides a motorcycle in California must wear a helmet that meets U.S. Department of Transportation and state safety standards. It must be attached to the helmet strap and securely fastened without excessive lateral or vertical movement.
Understanding Motorcycle Helmet Laws By State
An exception to this rule is when a person drives or is a passenger in a three-wheeled complete motor vehicle that is seven feet or more in length, four feet or more in width, and weighs 900 pounds or more. .
These laws are subject to change, so it’s a good idea to check with the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles or the appropriate department before riding a motorcycle on California roads.
Colorado does not require motorcycle riders or adult passengers to wear helmets. All operators and passengers under the age of 18 must wear helmets that meet or exceed the standards established by the US Department of Transportation (DOT) for motorcycle helmets; Helmets must be designed to minimize head impact injuries, including liners, padding, and chin straps. A chip belt must be worn while riding a motorcycle.
Operators and adults must wear safety glasses or goggles with plastic lenses. This eye protection is not required if the operator/passenger wears safety glasses or plastic eye protection.
Helmet Laws By State
The Colorado Department of Revenue is responsible for enforcing design standards and specifications for eyeglasses and sunglasses.
These standards and specifications are subject to change, so it is recommended that you check with the department before riding your motorcycle on Colorado roads.
In Connecticut, it is illegal for anyone under the age of 18 to ride a motorcycle without a helmet.
These regulations are subject to change, so motorcyclists and passengers should check with the commissioner before riding a motorcycle on Connecticut roads.
Nevada Targets Riders With New Helmet Laws
Everyone under the age of 19 must wear a safety helmet and eye protection approved by the Secretary.
Riders over the age of 19 must wear helmets and eye protection when riding.
Laws are subject to change, so it’s best to check with the Secretary of Safety before riding a motorcycle in Delaware.
DC law requires all motorcycle operators and passengers to wear helmets approved by the Department of Motor Vehicles. At a minimum, the helmet must meet the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Specification for Protective Helmets for Motor Vehicle Users, Z90-.1-1966.
Understanding Helmet Laws Wisconsin
DC law requires motorcycle helmets to have a weatherproof reflector on both sides that covers at least 4 inches. Helmets must have a neck or chin strap. The law also states that helmets must provide up to 120 degrees of unobstructed peripheral vision in every direction. Also, the helmet should not interfere with hearing.
In addition to helmet laws, all motorcycle operators must wear goggles or a face shield unless the bike is equipped with a windshield or the operator wears goggles.
Florida’s helmet law is a bit more complicated. In general, all operators and motorcyclists must wear safety helmets. However, the helmet law does not apply to riders or drivers over the age of 21 unless the person is covered by an insurance policy that provides at least $10,000 in medical benefits for an accident while riding. On a motorcycle
Also, the helmet law does not apply to persons 16 years of age or older riding or driving motorcycles of 50 cubic centimeters or more.
Illinois Motorcycle Helmet Law Comparison
Helmet radios for motorcycles, arizona helmet laws for motorcycles, states that have helmet laws for motorcycles, states with helmet laws for motorcycles, helmet for motorcycles, helmet locks for motorcycles, how many states have helmet laws, what states have helmet laws, helmet states for motorcycles, what states have helmet laws for motorcycles, helmet laws for motorcycles, states without helmet laws motorcycles