Kentucky Helmet Motorcycle Law
Kentucky has specific laws regarding motorcycle helmet requirements. While not all drivers and passengers are required to wear a helmet, the state's Motorcycle Rider Education Program suggests that all riders wear a helmet approved by the Department of Transportation.
Other People Are Reading
-
The Law
-
Kentucky law requires all motorcycle drivers and passengers under age 21 to wear a helmet on public roads. Motorcycle drivers who hold a motorcycle instruction permit and those who have held a motorcycle operator's license for less than one year are also required to wear a helmet when driving a motorcycle. The law does not note any helmet requirements for drivers on private property.
Helmets
-
Helmets approved for use in Kentucky must meet all federal regulations for motorcycle helmets, including meeting safety standards and configuration requirements. For more detailed information, the U.S. Department of Transportation lists all federal regulations on its website. In addition, they must be labeled with the letters "DOT" -- standing for Department of Transportation -- in contrasting letters on the back, bottom, outside edge of the helmet and the letters must be at least 1-centimeter tall.
-
History
-
Kentucky enacted a motorcycle helmet law in 1968, requiring universal helmet use for both motorcycle drivers and riders. In 1998, the state amended the law to require mandatory helmet usage only for drivers and passengers under the age of 21 and those drivers holding a permit or in their first year of holding a motorcycle license.
Statistics
-
Motorcycle fatalities increased more than 50 percent after the Kentucky's universal helmet law was appealed, notes the Kentucky Motorcycle Rider Education Program.
-
References
Resources
- Photo Credit man on the cycle on the road, scooter image by alma_sacra from Fotolia.com
