Helmets help prevent head injuries, so laws requiring cyclists to wear them would seem obvious. But many cycling advocates have taken a surprising position: They are pushing back against mandatory bike-helmet laws in the U.S. and elsewhere. They say mandatory helmet laws, particularly for adults, make cycling less convenient and seem less safe, thus hindering the larger public-health gains of more people riding bikes.... Nearly 200,000 People Evacuated Amid Fears Over California Dam North Korea Missile Launch Poses Challenge for Trump 2017 Grammy Awards Fashion: The Best, the Bad and Beyoncé Adele Says "Hello" to Five Grammy Awards, Beating Beyoncé India's Bike-Riding Patriots Rally Against CashFile photo of motorcycles. (Photo by Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images) HARTFORD, Conn. (CBS Connecticut) – The house co-chair of the legislature’s Transportation Committee is proposing a law requiring all motorcyclists in Connecticut to wear a helmet. Rep. Tony Guerrera (D-Rocky Hill) says he’s proposing the measure to start a conversation about the topic, and to hear from experts on both the potential benefits and drawbacks of the requirement.

Currently, only minors are required to wear a helmet on a motorcycle in Connecticut. The state did have a helmet law covering all riders, but it was repealed in 1977. Latest School Closings and DelaysHear WTIC Podcasts Featured Shows & Multimedia Advertise On Our StreamsAccording to the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) all motorcycle drivers must obey all the same traffic laws as other motor vehicles on the roadways. a2 motorcycle license ukBecause those laws vary from state to state, make sure you’re aware of Colorado laws so you can ride safely and legally.honda motorcycle dealer troy ohio The minimum safety standards for motorcycles in Colorado include the following: Although helmets are proven to save lives, riders age 18 and over are not required to wear helmets in Colorado. good motorcycle roads cincinnati

However, if the motorcycle operator or passengers are under age 18, they must wear DOT-approved helmets. In 2006, 65% of fatally injured motorcycle riders were not wearing a helmet in states without all-rider helmet laws, compared with only 13% in states with all-rider helmet laws. Our Colorado motorcycle accident lawyers at McDivitt Law Firm can provide further information regarding what is expected of you as a motorcyclist and can answer any questions you may have.  dirt bikes for sale jacksonville ncCall us toll free at (877) 846-4878 or click here for a free consultation form.dirt bikes for sale in lebanon tn How do I obtain a Motorcycle License?motorcycle boots berkshire

You must have the proper endorsement on your driver’s license. The general motorcycle endorsement “M” qualifies you to ride a 2- or 3-wheel motorcycle. Scooters and other low-power vehicles under 50cc or that have a speed capacity less than 40 mph do not qualify as motorcycles in Colorado.   However, you must have at least a basic driver’s license to operate them. Since 1973, the Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF) has set internationally recognized standards of excellence in motorcycle rider education and training. CDOT administers an MSF-approved program called MOST: Motorcycle Operator Safety Training.  This is, according to CDOT, the best option for getting a motorcycle endorsement.  Riders who pass a MOST class can simply take their completion card to a state driver’s license office to get an endorsement with no further testing needed. Motorcycle Accident Resource Center If you’ve been injured in a motorcycle accident caused by someone else, all the experienced Colorado motorcycle accident lawyers at McDivitt Law Firm, toll free, at (877) 846-4878 for a free initial consultation or click here for a free consultation form.

On April 12, 2012, Michigan's longstanding helmet law went down in flames. Many motorcyclists were happy to see it go, but others might not be singing the same tune, since the move could cause an insurance rate hike. According to the Highway Loss Data Institute, only 19 states require all riders to wear helmets. Another 28 require helmets for some motorcyclists, typically those under the age of 18. Three states -- Illinois, Iowa, and New Hampshire -- have no helmet laws at all. (FYI, New Hampshire doesn't require adults to wear seatbelts, either.) Michigan now falls into the middle group: motorcyclists 20 and under must wear helmets at all times, but older riders can do as they please. However, those who prefer to go helmet-free must carry at least $20,000 in medical coverage. Anti-helmet activists often claim that helmets not only reduce riders' hearing and field of vision, but also increase fatigue. That, in turn, makes helmet-wearers more likely to suffer accidents than those without helmets.

By that logic, investigators in Michigan might've expected motorcycle accidents to decrease after the repeal of the helmet law. But that's not what happened. HLDI looked at insurance claims and payouts in 2011 and 2012 -- before and after the helmet law was repealed. They focused on what's commonly considered the riding season, which falls between May and September. After tracking the frequency of claims and the amounts paid on those claims, researchers learned that numbers across the board had gone up. Comparing Michigan's stats with those of neighboring states, HDLI found that the number of motorcycle accident claims in Michigan during 2012 was about 10% above normal, and the average severity of those claims (which indicates the severity of accidents) was up a grisly 36%. Multiply those two figures, and you get the total amount paid out by Michigan's insurers for motorcycle collisions, which rose 51% after the helmet law's repeal. What does that mean in human terms?

According to Detroit News, motorcycle fatalities have been on the rise since at least 1997 -- even as automobile fatality rates have hit historic lows. But even that upward trend may not explain the recent figures in Michigan. In 2011, 109 motorcyclists were killed in Michigan, and just five of those riders were unhelmeted. Another 24 without helmets were seriously injured In 2012, the number of motorcyclists killed in Michigan jumped to 129. Of that total, 55 weren't wearing helmets. And a whopping 195 unhelmeted riders suffered serious injuries. Those who hate helmet laws often point fingers at riders without motorcycle licenses or with limited motorcycle experience. And in fairness, that could account for some of the increase in fatalities and serious injuries between 2011 and 2012. The weather could also play a role: weather was more motorcycle-friendly in 2012, allowing for a slightly longer riding season. And HDLI admits that the repeal of the helmet law could have encouraged more riders to hit the road, which might, in turn, have caused a jump in motorcycle accidents.