Even without a law, a helmet is a must-have Before you head out on the highway looking for adventure make sure it isn’t a ticket that comes your way. This guide details the helmet laws state by state to help riders follow the rules. Of course, the safest choice is to always wear a traditional (non-novelty) helmet that complies with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 218. Besides getting a ticket for not wearing a helmet in certain states, there is even more incentive—not properly protecting yourself could increase your risk of injury or even death. Just 19 states, plus the District of Columbia, have universal motorcycle helmet laws requiring usage despite the fact that studies show that helmets can help reduce your injury risk in a crash. They are about 37 percent effective in preventing deaths and about 67 percent effective in preventing brain injuries from motorcycle crashes. (See our 10 safety tips for new riders.) In states that institute laws, deaths and injuries from motorcycle accidents typically drop.

Unfortunately, the opposite also proves true when such laws are repealed. Nearly 100 percent of motorcyclists riding in states with helmet laws were wearing them. In states without the laws, helmet use was about 50 percent. Getting more riders to wear helmets is important: As more motorcyclists have taken to the road over the last few years, rider fatalities have grown even more rapidly especially compared to cars.  weise motorcycle clothing ukIn 2012, over 4,900 motorcyclists died on the roads--that is 15 percent of the total highway fatalities and an increase of 33 percent from 2003-2012.best used middleweight motorcycle Before embarking on a long-distance ride, check out our list of which states have universal laws requiring helmet use. dirt bikes for sale gloucestershire

The best move is to keep things simple and safe: Wear a quality, DOT-approved helmet even if it’s not the law in your state or wherever you are traveling. 17 and younger riders and passengers For more on motorcycles, see our buying advice and our special section covering safety, reliability, first rides and more.1000cc bike for sale in sa Motorcycles & Scooters Ratingsmotorcycle superstore philadelphia View and compare all Motorcycles & Scooters ratings.motorcycle shop in casper wy Build & Buy Car Buying Servicemotorcycle parts anamosa ia Save thousands off MSRP with upfront dealer pricing information and a transparent car buying experience.

Get Ratings on the go and compare while you shopAs spring arrives and outdoor recreational activities increase, trauma surgeons at Vanderbilt University Medical Center are already seeing an increase in serious motorcycle accidents. Last Sunday as temperatures rose across Middle Tennessee, VUMC treated five motorcycle accident victims. Unfortunately, one of these victims sustained injuries that were not survivable. Spring brings the arrival of “trauma season,” which in the Southeast runs from April through September. During this period, physicians with VUMC’s Level 1 Trauma Center typically see a 50 percent increase in patients injured by major trauma, including motorcycle accidents. With the unseasonably warm temperatures last weekend, the increase in traumatic motorcycle injuries began early this year. “The advent of warm weather rolls out many activities such as motorcycle and ATV riding and cycling that require attention to detail and essential safety gear,” said Oscar Guillamondegui, M.D., associate professor of Surgery, medical director of the Trauma Intensive Care Unit and director of the Vanderbilt Multidisciplinary Traumatic Brain Injury Clinic.

“Do not forget to be attentive, and always wear helmets when riding.” Despite more than 40 years of definitive data that confirms increased deaths and medical costs in states that do not support universal motorcycle helmet laws, again this year members of Tennessee’s legislature have filed legislation to amend the state’s law. The legislation would make wearing a motorcycle helmet optional for riders 21 and older unless they are enrolled in the state’s Medicaid program TennCare. VUMC’s trauma surgeons express concern over the proposed changes to the state’s current universal helmet law, that if passed will result in increased fatalities and increased health care costs for all Tennesseans. According to the National Highway Transportation and Safety Administration (NHTSA) in states without a universal helmet law, 65 percent of motorcyclists killed in 2011 were not wearing helmets. In states with a universal helmet law, 9 percent of motorcyclists killed were not wearing helmets.

“The ability of motorcycle helmets to save lives and health care dollars through reduced severity of injury is without question,” said Richard Miller, M.D., professor of Surgery and chief of Vanderbilt’s Division of Trauma and Surgical Critical Care. “Tennessee’s universal motorcycle helmet law, enacted in 1967, has saved tens of thousands of lives and hundreds of millions of dollars.” The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that in 2010 alone Tennessee’s motorcycle helmet law saved 46 additional lives and $94 million in economic costs. “At a time when our state and our nation are attempting to reduce health care costs, this legislation, if enacted, will result in increased deaths and substantial financial consequences not only for the accident victims but for all Tennessee taxpayers,” Miller said. According to the NHTSA, on average, motorcycle helmets reduce the risk of death by 37 percent, reduce the risk of traumatic brain injury by 65 percent, and save the U.S. approximately $3 billion each year in health care and societal costs.