U.S. Transportation Secretary Mary E. Peters recently sent legislation to Congress that seeks greater flexibility for states to target one of the leading causes of motorcycle deaths across the nation: riding without a helmet.
An avid motorcyclist, Peters credits her helmet and riding gear for saving her life during a 2005 motorcycle crash. “My helmet prevented me from being a brain injury patient when I crashed my Harley two years ago,” Secretary Peters said. “We know helmets save lives and I want states to be able to join in urging riders to take personal responsibility for their safety by wearing a helmet every time they ride.”
The legislation would allow states to use federal motorcycle safety funding to promote the use of motorcycle helmets. Currently, states are limited to using the funds for motorcycle safety training and awareness programs only.
According to Peters, states need additional resources to combat a sharp increase in motorcycle fatalities. In 2006, motorcycle fatalities reached 4,810, an increase of 127 percent since 1997, she said.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that motorcycle helmets not only saved the lives of 1,658 motorcyclists in 2006, but that 752 additional lives could have been saved if all motorcyclists had worn helmets, she added.
Calling motorcycles “our nation’s greatest highway safety challenge,” Peters launched a federal initiative to improve motorcycle safety in October 2007. The action plan emphasizes more rider education and training, tougher standards for helmet certification labeling, law enforcement training, and road designs that consider motorcycle dynamics.
The legislation filed by Peters is the latest attempt to get states to encourage the use of helmets. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, states have wavered over helmet laws as federal laws have changed.
All but 3 states (Illinois, Iowa and New Hampshire) now require some or all motorcyclists to wear helmets. Since 1997, Arkansas, Florida, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, and Texas have changed their laws to apply only to young riders.
In 1967, the federal government required states to enact helmet use laws in order to qualify for certain federal funds. That was stopped in 1976. By 1980, most states had repealed or limited their motorcycle helmet laws to cover riders younger than 18, but not older riders.
Motorcycle Helmet Laws
- Laws requiring all motorcyclists to wear a helmet are in place in 20 states and the District of Columbia. The states are Alabama, California, Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, Washington and West Virginia.
- Laws requiring only some motorcyclists to wear a helmet are in place in 27 states.
- There is no motorcycle helmet use law in 3 states (Illinois, Iowa, and New Hampshire).
Source: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, www.iihs.org.
Topics Auto Legislation Training Development
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