HELMET USE
LAWS as of July 2003 Provided by Insurance Institute
for Highway Safety, Highway Loss Data Institute
By
the early 1970s, virtually all states had laws requiring all motorcyclists
to wear helmets. But Illinois repealed its law in 1970 and, by 1980, most
states had abandoned or substantially limited theirs -- usually
restricting coverage to riders younger than 18. Legislators in some states
later reinstated helmet laws so that all but 4 states now require some or
all motorcyclists to wear helmets. (Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, and New
Hampshire don't have helmet laws.) Arkansas, Florida, Kentucky, Louisiana,
and Texas have changed their laws covering all riders to apply only to
young riders. Helmet use rates approach 100 percent in 20 states and the
District of Columbia where motorcycle helmet laws apply to all riders, but
the laws in 27 states that apply only to some cyclists aren't
effective.
Bicycle helmets also prevent injuries, but no state has a universal
bicycle helmet law. Only 17 states and the District of Columbia have
statewide bicycle helmet laws, and they apply only to young riders. Local
ordinances in a few states require bicycle helmets for some or all
riders.
State |
Motorcycle
Riders Covered by Helmet Law |
Bicycle
Riders Covered by Helmet Law |
Alabama |
all
riders |
riders younger
than 16 |
Alaska |
17 yrs. and
younger
1 |
no
law |
Arizona |
17 yrs. and
younger |
no
law |
Arkansas |
20 yrs. and
younger |
no
law |
California |
all
riders |
riders younger
than 18 |
Colorado |
no helmet use
laws |
Connecticut |
17 yrs. and
younger |
riders younger
than 16 |
Delaware |
18 yrs. and
younger |
riders younger
than 16 |
District of
Columbia |
all
riders |
riders younger
than 16 |
Florida
|
20 yrs. and
younger2 |
riders younger
than 16 |
State |
Motorcycle
Riders Covered by Helmet Law |
Bicycle
Riders Covered by Helmet Law |
Georgia |
all
riders |
riders younger
than 16 |
Hawaii |
17 yrs. and
younger |
riders younger
than 16 |
Idaho |
17 yrs. and
younger |
no
law |
Illinois |
no helmet
use laws |
Indiana |
17 yrs. and
younger |
no
law |
Iowa |
no helmet
use laws |
Kansas |
17 yrs. and
younger |
no
law |
Kentucky |
20 yrs. and
younger2,3
|
no
law |
Louisiana |
17 yrs. and
younger2 |
riders younger
than 12 |
Maine |
14 yrs. and
younger4
|
riders younger
than 16 |
State |
Motorcycle
Riders Covered by Helmet Law |
Bicycle
Riders Covered by Helmet Law |
Maryland |
all
riders |
riders younger
than 16 |
Massachusetts |
all
riders |
riders older
than 1 and younger than 135 |
Michigan |
all
riders |
no
law |
Minnesota |
17 yrs. and
younger3 |
no
law |
Mississippi |
all
riders |
no
law |
Missouri |
all
riders |
no
law |
Montana |
17 yrs. and
younger |
no
law |
Nebraska |
all
riders |
no
law |
Nevada |
all
riders |
no
law |
New
Hampshire |
no helmet use
laws |
State |
Motorcycle
Riders Covered by Helmet Law |
Bicycle
Riders Covered by Helmet Law |
New
Jersey |
all
riders |
riders younger
than 14 |
New
Mexico |
17 yrs. and
younger |
no
law |
New
York |
all
riders |
riders older
than 1 and younger than 145 |
North
Carolina |
all
riders |
riders younger
than 16 |
North
Dakota |
17 yrs. and
younger6 |
no
law |
Ohio |
17 yrs. and
younger7 |
no
law |
Oklahoma |
17 yrs. and
younger |
no
law |
Oregon |
all
riders |
riders younger
than 16 |
Pennsylvania |
20 yrs. and
younger8 (eff.
09/04/03) |
riders younger
than 12 |
Rhode
Island |
20 yrs. and
younger8 |
riders younger
than 16 |
State |
Motorcycle
Riders Covered by Helmet Law |
Bicycle
Riders Covered by Helmet Law |
South
Carolina |
20 yrs. and
younger |
no
law |
South
Dakota |
17 yrs. and
younger |
no
law |
Tennessee |
all
riders |
riders younger
than 16 |
Texas |
20 yrs. and
younger2 |
no
law |
Utah |
17 yrs. and
younger |
no
law |
Vermont |
all
riders |
no
law |
Virginia |
all
riders |
no
law |
Washington |
all
riders |
no
law |
West
Virginia |
all
riders |
riders younger
than 15 |
Wisconsin |
17 yrs. and
younger3 |
no
law |
Wyoming |
18 yrs. and
younger |
no
law |
1Alaska's motorcycle helmet use law covers
passengers of all ages, drivers younger than 18, and drivers with
instructional permits.
2Florida, Kentucky, Louisiana, and Texas
provide exceptions for riders over a certain age. In Florida and Kentucky,
the law requires that all riders younger than 21 yrs. wear helmets,
without exception. In Florida, those 21 yrs. and older may ride without
helmets only if they can show proof that they are covered by a medical
insurance policy. Louisiana's law allows riders 18 yrs. and older to ride
without helmets if they can show proof that they are covered by a medical
insurance policy. Texas exempts riders 21 yrs. or older if they either 1)
can show proof of successfully completing a motorcycle operator training
and safety course or 2) can show proof of having a medical insurance
policy.
3Motorcycle helmet laws in Kentucky,
Minnesota, and Wisconsin also cover drivers with instructional/learner's
permits.
4Maine's motorcycle helmet use law covers
passengers 14 years and younger, drivers with learner's permits, and
passengers if their drivers are required to wear a helmet.
5Bicycle helmet use laws in Massachusetts
and New York prohibit people from transporting passengers younger than age
1.
6North Dakota's motorcycle helmet use law
covers all passengers traveling with drivers who are covered by the
law.
7Ohio's motorcycle helmet use law covers
all drivers during the first year of licensure and all passengers of
drivers who are covered by the law
8Rhode Island's motorcycle helmet use law
covers all drivers during the first year of licensure and all passengers.
Pennsylvania's motorcycle hemlet use law covers all drivers during the
first two years of licensure unless the driver has completed the safety
course approved by the department or the Motorcycle Safety
Foundation. |