Motorcycle Helmets: Only 51% in U.S. Wear them
December 8, 2006
budlight
From the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
“The Secretary said the latest new data also shows that 51 percent of motorcyclists in the U.S. now wear helmets, up from 48 percent in 2005. She noted that motorcycle helmet use rose in the West between 2005 and 2006 (from 50 to 72 percent); and in the Northeast (from 42 to 47 percent). However, the use rate fell in the Midwest (from 53 to 50 percent) and in the South (from 49 to 45 percent). (The only helmets counted in the survey were those that comply with DOT standards.)
“All across America, every single day, helmets save lives,” said Nicole R. Nason, the NHTSA administrator.
Administrator Nason said NHTSA recently began to offer federal grants to states for programs to reduce the number of motorcyclist crashes. This year, for example, the agency will provide $6 million in grant funds to states for motorcycle safety training and motorist awareness programs. She said the agency will also create a public service announcement to promote helmet use and a consumer video for its website on how to choose a safe and well-fitting motorcycle helmet.”
- The study also found that 14% of helmets worn don’t meet federal requirements
- It looks like for states that require you to use helmets 83% do so, but 15% of those are not compliant helmets
Here are the states that require you to wear helmets:
Alabama, California, District of Columbia, Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, West Virginia, Tennessee, Vermont, Washington, Virginia
Interesting how few there are that’s only 20 states plus the District of Columbia. Some of the states not listed do have a helmet law but only require a subset of riders to wear helmets, others have no such law.
