The most recent legislation proposed to mandate protective headgear for motorcyclists, HB 1162, was killed in the House Transportation Committee in 2010. CONTACT ELECTED OFFICIALS » Here in NH, your opinion counts. We make it easy to find and reach out to your elected officials about the issues that matter most to you. Click to search and contact your elected officials! Join our constantly growing community. Membership is free and supports our efforts to help NH citizens become informed and engaged.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. motorcycle shop walnut st denverThey are about 37 percent effective in preventing deaths and about 67 percent effective in preventing brain injuries from motorcycle crashes. used motorcycle dealers inland empire(See our 10 safety tips for new riders.)craigslist motorcycles sale tulsa oklahoma In states that institute laws, deaths and injuries from motorcycle accidents typically drop. suzuki motorcycle dealer worcester

Unfortunately, the opposite also proves true when such laws are repealed. tint motorcycle helmet shieldNearly 100 percent of motorcyclists riding in states with helmet laws were wearing them. top 5 mileage bikes in india 125ccIn states without the laws, helmet use was about 50 percent.honda motorcycle dealers in makati 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.  In 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. Before embarking on a long-distance ride, check out our list of which states have universal laws requiring helmet use.

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. Motorcycles & Scooters Ratings View and compare all Motorcycles & Scooters ratings. Build & Buy Car Buying Service Save thousands off MSRP with upfront dealer pricing information and a transparent car buying experience. Get Ratings on the go and compare while you shopIs there a New Hampshire law requiring motorcycle riders and passengers to wear a helmet? -- Please select -- Current State Motorcycle Helmet Laws and Fatality Rates The percentage of people killed in motorcycle crashes in 2011 who were not wearing helmets is higher in states without a mandatory helmet law. More than 8 million motorcycles were registered in the United States in 2011, and nearly 500,000 motorcycles were sold in 2012.

In 2011, 4,612 motorcyclists were killed in crashes and 81,000 were injured. Per miles travelled, motorcyclists are 30 times more likely than passenger car occupants to die in a crash. Wearing helmets and getting the proper licensing and training have been shown to reduce injuries and deaths from motorcycle crashes. Nineteen states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands currently require all riders to wear helmets. Illinois, Iowa and New Hampshire do not require anyone to wear a helmet, regardless of age. The remaining 28 states require riders of a specific age—usually those under age 18 or 21—to wear helmets. According to a 2012 National Occupant Protection Use Survey (NOPUS) Survey, conducted by National Highway Traffic Safety Administration; In states with universal helmet laws, 89 percent of the motorcyclists observed were wearing helmets. In states with partial helmet use requirements or no laws, 49 percent were observed wearing helmets.

Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and National Conference of State Legislatures 2014. Complete Post Card PDF Get Involved With NCSL Tel: 1-800-659-2656 or 711 NCSL in the News 7700 East First Place 444 North Capitol Street, N.W., Suite 515 Motorcycle helmet laws vary widely among the states and have changed a lot in the past half a century. Currently, 19 states and the District of Columbia have laws requiring all motorcyclists to wear a helmet, known as universal helmet laws. Laws requiring only some motorcyclists to wear a helmet are in place in 28 states. There is no motorcycle helmet use law in three states (Illinois, Iowa and New Hampshire). In the past, many more states had universal helmet laws, thanks to pressure from the federal government. In 1967, states were required to enact helmet use laws in order to qualify for certain federal safety programs and highway construction funds. The federal incentive worked. By the early 1970s, almost all the states had universal motorcycle helmet laws.