Mo Motorcycle Laws

Mo Motorcycle Laws

Mo Motorcycle Laws – Missouri’s stance on lane splitting for motorcyclists may not be as clear as California, where it is explicitly authorized by law. In show cases, lane splitting is not completely prohibited, but it is also not completely permitted as a safety measure. This creates a gray area where the legality of lane splitting depends more on the specific circumstances.

When driving a motorcycle in Missouri, it is important to know the rules of the road to ensure your safety and legal compliance. We’ve gathered some important information to help you navigate the complexities of Missouri’s motorcycle laws.

Mo Motorcycle Laws

First and foremost, let’s talk acceleration. Corporal Ken Hall of the Springfield Police Department emphasizes the dangers of reckless driving. Speeding not only puts the rider at risk but also puts other people on the road at risk. Such careless and negligent driving can lead to legal charges. Therefore, always obey speed limits and ride responsibly.

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Now, let’s move on to the topic of lane splitting. While some states allow motorcycles to split lanes or move through stopped traffic in the same lane, Missouri’s laws remain vague. The state does not explicitly permit or prohibit lane splitting. However, based on security concerns, we recommend avoiding this practice. Studies have shown that lane splitting can be dangerous, as other drivers often do not expect motorcycles to share their lanes. Being predictable and visible on the road is important for your safety.

To legally drive a motorcycle on Missouri’s public roads and highways, you must have a Class M learner’s permit or license or a Class M endorsement on your driver’s license. If you are 15 years and 182 days of age or older, you can apply for a motorcycle instruction permit. To obtain it, you must complete a state-approved motorcycle rider training course and pass Class F and Class M written knowledge tests along with a vision test. If you are under 18 years of age, written consent of a parent or legal guardian is also required.

Finally, under Missouri statute sections 302.020 and 302.026, every person riding or operating a motorcycle or motor tricycle must wear protective headgear. Ensuring your safety is not only good practice but also legally mandatory. Missouri had a universal motorcycle helmet law. Under this law, all motorcycle operators and passengers are required to wear a helmet while driving on state highways.

But a new law came into effect in 2020. Under the amended helmet law, only riders and passengers aged 25 and below will have to wear helmets. Riders and passengers 26 years of age and older are not required to wear a helmet if they have health insurance.

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Here’s a quick guide to Missouri’s helmet laws and why you should wear a helmet regardless of your age.

In 1967, the US Congress passed a highway funding bill. This bill became part of the money paid to states for highway contingencies upon passage of universal motorcycle helmet laws.

That same year, Missouri passed a universal helmet law requiring all motorcycle operators and passengers to wear helmets.

That universal helmet law remained in effect until 2019. That year, Missouri relaxed its helmet law. Under the amended law that came into effect in 2020, only two categories of motorcyclists are required to wear a helmet:

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A judge can impose fines for violations of helmet laws. The fine for a first offense cannot exceed $25. But the Missouri DMV cannot add points to your driving record for helmet law violations.

The Missouri legislature took an additional step to require helmets. Under the amended law, Missouri police and highway patrol cannot pull over anyone for not wearing a helmet. This moved Missouri from a primary enforcement state to a secondary enforcement state.

Primary enforcement In the state, law enforcement officers may stop motorcyclists without helmets to check compliance with state laws.

For example, if Missouri retained basic enforcement, law enforcement officers could stop motorcyclists to determine their age, license, and insurance status.

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But as a secondary enforcement state, Missouri police officers and highway patrol troopers can only issue citations for helmet law violations if they stop a motorcyclist for another violation.

Therefore, if a motorcyclist is stopped for speeding, the officer or constable may issue a citation for failure to wear a helmet if the motorcyclist is 25 years of age or older or has an instructional permit. Is.

On the other hand, if the motorcyclist obeys all other traffic laws, an officer or constable cannot stop the motorcyclist merely for not wearing a helmet.

Helmet law experts say laws like Missouri’s do not amount to any law at all. Law enforcement officers cannot determine a motorcyclist’s age, license status, or health insurance status by looking at it. Instead, they have to wait.

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Most officers will not take the time to stop motorcyclists to see if they are violating helmet laws.

But Missouri doesn’t allow this simple step. By enforcing the helmet law only for minor violations, Missouri guarantees that the helmet law will not be enforced.

Even though Missouri law does not require you to wear a helmet, you should still consider wearing one. Data from Missouri and many other states prove that helmet use prevents deaths and injuries.

In Missouri, the number of motorcycle crash deaths increased 800% after the universal helmet law was repealed. This increase matched increases in other states after repeal, although Missouri’s increase was more dramatic.

Increase In Mo Motorcycle Crash Fatalities Since Mandated Helmet Law Lifted

The number of deaths in motorcycle accidents increased by 37.5% in Kentucky. Deaths increased 31% in Texas and 21% in Arkansas.

The number of head and brain injuries has also increased. In Texas and Arkansas, the number of head injuries nearly doubled after their helmet laws were repealed. But what is more worrying is that the number of serious head injuries has decreased while the number of moderate and mild head injuries has increased.

This means that motorcyclists who suffered serious head injuries while wearing helmets died without helmets. Without a helmet, only people with minor or moderate injuries could survive.

Even more worrying is the fact that the cost of treating motorcycle injuries has increased in Texas and Arkansas since the helmet repeals. More complex injuries resulting from subluxation require more complex treatment.

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Even if you have health insurance in compliance with the law, if you are involved in a motorcycle accident without a helmet you may suffer from permanent disability and ongoing medical expenses for the rest of your life.

Wearing a helmet doesn’t just protect your health. It can also protect your right to claim compensation after a motorcycle accident.

Missouri applies comparative negligence in allocating damages. This means that an insurance claims adjuster or jury can reduce your injury award if you played a role in your injuries.

For example, if the jury finds that you are 20% at fault for your injuries, the judge will only compensate you for 80% of your damages.

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Wearing a helmet can help you show that you made every effort to avoid injuries in a motorcycle accident. This reduces your risk of injury.

Conversely, the at-fault driver will use your failure to wear a helmet to prove that you played a role in your injuries. You may lose a portion of the compensation you deserve for your motorcycle injuries because you were not wearing a helmet.

After a motorcycle accident in Missouri, you may face serious medical bills and a long recovery period. scheduled tribe. Motorcycle accident lawyer. Lewis can help you get all the compensation you deserve, especially if your accident was not your fault.

To discuss how your helmet use may affect the compensation you receive for your motorcycle accident, contact the team of Bradley Law personal injury attorneys for a free consultation.

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During your consultation, you will have the opportunity to speak with one of our experienced St. Louis personal injury attorneys. Lewis, discuss the circumstances of your accident and determine your next legal steps.

For more information, please contact a Bradley Law personal injury attorney at a location near you to schedule a free case review today. Share your needs with our concierge team, and they will book you with our best available top service providers!

Missouri’s beautiful highways make it a favorite motorcycle destination. Motorcycle lovers will find plenty of places to ride in the Show-Me State. From Route 66 to Route 185, riders can enjoy a scenic ride. They can also ride from St. Lewis to Gray Pass summit, crossing the Meramec River. However, motorcyclists are more vulnerable to accidents than drivers and car riders because they are exposed and have less protection. Additionally, they are more likely to come into contact with other drivers.

Missouri ranks seventh in the nation for motorcycle deaths. In its 2021 report, the National Highway Safety Administration estimated that drivers and passengers are 24 times more likely to die in a crash. They are four times more likely to be injured. Preliminary data from the same year recorded 151 motorcyclist deaths on Missouri roads. Its cost is 14%

Gov. Mike Parson Signed A Bill Into Law That Will Ease Helmet Requirements For Some Motorcyclists In Missouri

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