Use of Helmets While Riding Motorcycles
Although it is required by law in most states for all motorcyclists, or those of a certain age, to wear a helmet, there are safety reasons that should make you want to wear one regardless. Helmets help protect the head from severe injury and even death in the event of a motorcycle accident.
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Laws
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Currently, there are only three states in the United States that do not have helmet laws in place for motorcyclists---Iowa, Illinois and New Hampshire. Twenty states require by law that anyone operating a motorcycle must wear a helmet, including passengers. The other 27 states have what are known as partial laws, which means that motorcyclists of a certain age and under are required to wear a helmet.
Facts
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According to the Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety "motorcycles make up less than 2 percent of all registered vehicles and only 0.4 percent of all vehicle miles traveled, but motorcyclists account for over 9 percent of total traffic fatalities." This is due to the fact that states do not have strict enough helmet laws in place. Within these states, a total of 65 percent of fatal motorcycle accidents that occurred were the result of not wearing a helmet in the year 2006.
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Significance
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Wearing a helmet while operating a motorcycle does not make a person invincible. They are simply made to help prevent severe, even fatal, injury to the head. The fact that motorcycle operators are so visible to highway patrol means that it would be easy enough to enforce helmet laws in all states and decrease the number of fatalities caused by motorcycle accidents each year.
Considerations
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The Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety has said that "in 1992, the first year of California's all-rider motorcycle helmet law, 327 motorcyclists died in traffic crashes, compared with 512 in 1991---a 36 percent reduction in fatalities in one year." Taking this fact into consideration shows that when helmets are used while riding motorcycles, there is a chance you could save your life or the life of your passenger. Always require your passengers to wear a helmet.
Advice
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Purchase a helmet that fits comfortably snug around your head. Make sure the helmet is not loose so that it does not slip from your head while riding down the road on your motorcycle. You can have a helmet specially made to custom fit you to help ensure your safety. Never get on a motorcycle with anyone unless they have a helmet for you to use, even for short distances.
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