Motorcycle helmets can be a very controversial subject with bikers. Those who ride motorcycles have very strong opinions on whether they should be required to wear a motorcycle helmet or not. Many bikers choose to wear a helmet because it is required by law. Some bikers live in areas that a helmet is not required, but still choose to wear a D.O.T. approved helmet.
We will take a look at motorcycle helmets, both D.O.T. approved and novelty. We will discuss reasons for and against wearing motorcycle helmets, what it takes for a helmet to be approved by the Department Of Transportation and what it means to you, the individual who must choose a helmet.
First, let's take a look at the helmet laws in America. Each state can choose to require motorcycle riders to wear a helmet that is D.O.T. approved. Helmet laws can change and what is written below may have changed by the time you, the reader, reads this article. Please always check with your local authorities as to what the CURRENT law is for helmets in your local area.
HELMET LAWS BY STATE:
100% HELMET LAW FREE STATES
There are only four states that are 100% helmet law free. This means that these states do not require you to wear a motorcycle helmet. You may, of course, still wear one, but it is a personal decision.
These states are:
- Colorado
- Illinois
- Iowa
- New Hampshire
FULL HELMET LAW STATES
There are 20 states that have FULL helmet laws that require you to wear a D.O.T. approved safety motorcycle helmet whenever you are riding on a motorcycle.
These states are:
- Alabama
- California
- Georgia
- Louisiana
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Jersey
- New York
- North Carolina
- Oregon
- Tennessee
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
ADULTS OVER 18 EXEMPT FROM HELMET LAWS STATES
There are 19 states where adults over the age of 18 are exempt from the helmet laws. This means that if a rider or a passenger on a motorcycle is under age 18, they are required to wear a D.O.T. approved motorcycle helmet.
These states are:
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Indiana
- Kansas
- Maine
- Minnesota
- Montana
- New Mexico
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- South Dakota
- Utah
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
ADULTS OVER 21 EXEMPT FROM HELMET LAWS STATES
There are seven states that require a motorcycle rider to be 21 years old before being exempt from the helmet laws. This means that if you are under age 21, you are required by law to wear a D.O.T. approved motorcycle helmet.
These states are:
- Arkansas
- Florida
- Kentucky
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- Texas
In my opinion, one should always wear a D.O.T. approved helmet. I do not say this just because I sell motorcycle helmets, but because as a motorcycle rider of many years, I have ALWAYS worn a D.O.T. approved motorcycle helmet. I feel safer wearing a full faced helmet as I've seen people wearing shorties who have had their faces scraped up pretty bad.
You will get varying opinions from different riders about the safety of helmets and there are those that feel it is safer NOT to wear a helmet. I know there have been cases where the rider crashed and would have been better off without wearing a helmet, but those cases are fewer than those who crash and a good quality motorcycle helmet has saved their lives.
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