MOTORCYCLE SAFETY

HOW TO SAVE LIVES AND SAVE MONEY 

National Center for Injury Prevention and Control 

Division of Unintentional Injury Prevention
2

Public Health Leadership To Keep

People Safe On The Road — Every Day

National Center for Injury Prevention and Control 

Division of Unintentional Injury Prevention
3

“Our role is to identify ways to prevent injury and death 

and rigorously check what works and what does not 

work. For motorcycle safety, the research shows that 

universal helmet laws are the most effective way to

reduce the number of deaths and traumatic brain

injuries that result from crashes.”

Dr. Thomas Frieden, CDC Director
Motorcycle deaths and injuries are an important public health

concern and economic liability in the United States.

In this Guide, you will learn:

•	 the public health significance of motorcycle crashes

•	 the best way to protect motorcycle riders

•	 how your state compares with other states in terms of 

motorcycle-related deaths and economic costs

•	 what you can do to increase motorcycle safety.
5

DEATHS ON THE RISE

Motorcycle-related deaths increased every single year between 1997 and 2008, a 150% increase.1

Motorcycle crashes killed 5,290 people in 2008.2

Preventing debilitating injuries and deaths from motorcycle crashes is a

significant and growing public health concern.

THE COST

The cost of motorcycle crashes is not just measured in bodies, loss, and grief. Motorcycle crashes create a burden to society, consuming public funds for 

emergency response, emergency room costs, and insurance premiums.3 In 

terms of medical care costs and productivity losses...

The economic burden from crash-related injuries and deaths in one 

year alone totaled $12 billion.4

PREVENTION THAT WORKS

With motorcycle ownership at an all-time high, motorcycle-related deaths and traumatic brain injuries are expected to remain at high levels unless 

more effective protective measures are enacted. Helmets are the only safety 

measure proven to save lives, and the universal helmet law (one that covers all 

motorcycle riders) is demonstrated to be the best way to ensure helmet use.5

OVERWHELMING PUBLIC SUPPORT

Four out of five Americans favor helmet laws.

Support is high in states with laws that require helmet use as well as states with no helmet law.6, 7, 8, 9

OVERVIEW

Photo: Dennis Hook, Hooked on Photography
6

PEOPLE WHO RIDE, PEOPLE WHO DIE

Today, more people are riding motorcycles than ever before.Motorcycle riders represent almost every demographic group

in the country. Riders now tend to be more affluent than 30 years 

ago. The average age of riders has increased, and more women

are riding than ever before.12 The profile of who crashes and who 

dies has changed too:

Age: Young people are not the only ones dying in motorcycle

crashes. In 2008, more than half the people killed in motorcycle 

crashes were 40 or older, up from 33% in 1998.13

Sex: While only 9% of riders killed in motorcycle crashes in 2008 

were women, almost all passengers (89%) killed in motorcycle 

crashes were women.2 

Helmets: People who do not wear helmets are more likely to be 

killed in a crash. Forty-one percent of motorcycle operators and 

51% of motorcycle passengers who died in 2008 were not wearing

a helmet.13

Location: More people are killed in motorcycle crashes on rural 

roads now than 20 years ago. Roughly half of all crashes take place 

on rural roads.14

Alcohol: When people drink and ride, they are at much greater risk 

of crashing and dying. Alcohol was involved in 37% of motorcycle 

crashes in 2008.13

Motorcycle Type: The majority of people who die in crashes

are riding sport motorcycles with mid-size engines designed to 

maximize speed and agility.14

REAL PEOPLE DYING EVERY DAY

The mother of a 13-year-old girl clinging to life wonders why her 

daughter wasn’t wearing a helmet as she rode on the back of a 

motorcycle driven by her father... They were both listed in critical 

condition Sunday — a “touch-and-go” situation two weeks after 

the motorcycle accident which is under investigation by the 

Lake County Sheriff’s Office.

News Sun, August 200710

When Ryan died from a motorcycle crash in 2004, the whole 

family was devastated. First, his brother became addicted to 

drugs, and after years of struggling with his addiction, he just 

recently got out of rehab. Then, his best friend tried to commit 

suicide. My cousin Ryan was only 24 when he died. His parents 

are still struggling to deal with the death of one son, and the 

damage to the other from drugs — both as a result of the crash. 

We're from a small town and everyone felt it. We're all looking 

for ways to cope. 

Emily W., January 201011
7

While studying for ministry, I spent a year as chaplain resident at a Chicago hospital. I was “on call” one evening when the 

emergency room paged me. An ambulance had just brought in a fellow who’d been riding his motorcycle without a helmet 

when an SUV had turned in front of him. Unable to turn or stop, he had hit the vehicle, ramming his head into a door. He was

a classic “biker dude”: muscular arms, tattoos, and a couple day’s growth of beard. He was unconscious and his face was 

swollen and turning purple. Emergency room staff swarmed around him. 

I spent most of the night with that family. I listened to their stories, I shared their tears. The couple had two teenagers, plus a 

younger girl, age nine. I think about his family every time I see a biker zoom by without a helmet. Helmets and cautious driving 

save lives. If, like this fellow, you have tough biker friends, I suppose they will tease you pretty hard if you do wear a helmet. It 

takes a thick skin and courage to handle teasing. Then again, I wonder how much courage it took for the nine-year-old girl to 

go in and say goodbye to her father?

Reverend Dennis McCarty15

WHO DIES?
8

“From the moment of injury, society picks the person up off the highway; delivers him to a municipal hospital and

municipal doctors; provides him with unemployment compensation if, after recovery, he cannot replace his lost job;

and, if the injury causes permanent disability, may assume responsibility for his and his family’s subsistence.

We do not understand a state of mind that permits plaintiff to think that only he himself is concerned.”

Opinion of the Federal Court of Massachusetts, 1972

Affirmed by the United States Supreme Court16

“A group of state legislators from across the country heard a presentation from a University of 

New Mexico neurosurgeon. At the end of his talk, one legislator asked, ‘If there was one 

thing we could do in the legislature to make your job easier, what would it be?’ 

They expected to hear, ‘Give us more money’ or ‘Increase our budget!’ 

Instead the surgeon answered, ‘Pass a motorcycle helmet law.’”

Melisa Savage

National Conference of State Legislatures17

Photo: Bill Lavallie, Fine Line International
9

THE PUBLIC PAYS

I

t is estimated that the economic burden of injuries and deaths from motorcycle 

related crashes in one year totaled $12 billion.4 Studies have also shown that

a substantial proportion of costs are paid by the U.S. public due to higher

insurance premiums and taxes, as well as lost tax revenue.3, 19, 20

A study of 105 motorcyclists hospitalized at a major trauma center determined 

that 63% of their care was paid for by public funds, with Medicaid accounting for 

over half of all charges.20 

KEY FACTORS

Two key factors influence the public’s financial burden from motorcycle crashes: helmet use and hospital and rehabilitation costs. 

•	 Unhelmeted motorcycle riders injured in a crash and admitted

to hospitals face substantially higher healthcare costs than do 

helmeted riders. Unhelmeted riders also use more of a hospital’s 

critical resources.21

•	 Unhelmeted motorcycle riders are twice as likely to suffer

traumatic brain injuries from crashes.21, 22, 23, 24 The median

hospital charges for motorcycle riders hospitalized with severe

traumatic brain injuries were 13 times higher than the charges

for those who did not have a traumatic brain injury.21

•	 Unhelmeted motorcycle riders are less likely to have health

insurance and are therefore more likely to have their medical

expenses paid by government-funded healthcare.19

PAYING THE BILL

Everyone pays when a motorcycle rider is severely injured. You can talk about freedom of choice, but when other people 

have to pay for the consequences of that choice, then it’s not freedom of choice at all.

Lt. Col. James Champagne

Executive Director, Louisiana Highway Safety Commission, Retired18

WHO PAYS?

“Despite the effectiveness of motorcycle helmet 

legislation, many states have repealed these

laws during the last decade. Aspects often

neglected by policymakers are who pays for the 

care of these victims and how much of this cost is 

subsidized by public funds.”

Journal of the American Medical Association.20
10

Motorcycle safety measures include motorcycle operator licensing and training, traffic laws and enforcement, and educational programs and campaigns. Considerable emphasis is placed on educating both motorcycle riders and car 

drivers that share the road with motorcyclists about safe driving. Additionally, education and outreach efforts often focus on 

alcohol. However, there is no consistent evidence that any of these measures reduce the number of motorcycle crashes or 

deaths.

HOW EFFECTIVE ARE THE MEASURES?

A few recent studies have shown that mechanical improvements such as antilock brakes can reduce the severity of

crashes, and this may affect injuries and deaths.5, 25, 26 Other motorcycle safety efforts include improving road conditions, 

reducing cultural support for rider-group alcohol use, and improving clothing and motorcycle visibility through bright or 

reflective colors. But again, no consistent evidence shows that any of these measures reduce the number of motorcycle 

crashes or deaths.5, 25

The only safety measure that costs little to initiate and reaches all riders is a state universal motorcycle helmet law. It is 

also the only measure proven to improve motorcycle safety.5, 25

SUMMARY OF MOTORCYCLE SAFETY EFFORTS

Unknown:

Limited or no scientific 

evidence.

Uncertain:

Effectiveness is still 

undetermined.

Likely:

Demonstrated to be 

effective in certain

situations. 

Scientifically 

Proven:

Demonstrated to be 

effective in several 

scientific evaluations 

with consistent 

results.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Countermeasures that Work, 200825

State motorcycle helmet laws

Motorcycle rider education and training

Motorcycle rider licensing

Helmet use promotion programs

Helmet law enforcement, noncompliant 

helmets

Alcohol impairment: detection and sanction

Alcohol impairment communications

Conspicuity and protective clothing

Other driver awareness of motorcycles

Unknown Uncertain Likely Scientifically

Proven

✓

✓

✓

✓

✓

✓

✓

✓

✓
11

WHAT HELMETS DO

Wearing helmets that meet the Department of Transportation (DOT) standard is the single most effective means of reducing the number of people 

who get injured or die from motorcycle crashes.5

Helmets are estimated to reduce the likelihood of death in a motorcycle

crash by 37%.28 The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) 

estimates that from 1984 through 2006 helmets saved the lives of 19,230

motorcycle riders.29

Traumatic brain injury is a leading cause of motorcycle crash death.30 Even 

when not fatal, these debilitating head injuries can mean a lifetime of costly

rehabilitation and severe emotional trauma for family and friends. In fact, treating severe traumatic brain injuries costs 13 times more than non-brain injuries.21

Helmets reduce the risk of head injury by 69%.3, 31

There are no negative health effects from helmet use. Helmets do not restrict a 

rider’s ability to hear important sounds, or to see a vehicle in the next lane.32

WHEN UNHELMETED RIDERS CRASH

Unhelmeted riders are 40% more likely to die from a head injury thansomeone wearing a helmet.29

The only proven way to get people to wear helmets is the universal

helmet law.5

PREVENTION THAT WORKS

ANATOMY OF A HELMET

Since 1974 all motorcycle helmets are required to meet the DOT standard that establishes the minimum level of protection a helmet must afford 

each helmet user.28 Full-face helmets offer the most protection, protecting 

the eyes and face with a face shield and providing protection to the chin. To 

illustrate the importance of full coverage, research from crashes shows the 

distribution of impact locations absorbed by motorcycle helmets.33

0.4%

1.8%

6.5%

5.7%

2.1% 19.4%

0.2% 5.5%

8.2%

1.8% 1.7%

10.1%

6.1%

6.4%

4.4% 0.6%

15.2% 1.9%

1.6%

0.4%

Distribution of impact locations on motorcycle helmets, all 

collisions, based on a study by Dietmar Otte.33

I was commuting to work on my motorcycle and headed onto the freeway exchange at about 45 miles an hour. I lost control 

and laid down my bike, really hit my head, and slid my way to a stop. My motorcycle was scratched, my helmet was banged up, 

and the rest of my gear was pretty shredded. But I walked away.

The thing is, I never used my helmet where I lived before because I wasn’t required to — there was no law. Moving to

California meant I had to wear one, and I am so glad that I did. My helmet saved my life.

Jonathan Hailstone27

WHAT WORKS?
12
13

There are two types of helmet laws used inthe United States.

Universal Helmet Law: Requires all

motorcycle riders and passengers of all 

ages to wear helmets whenever riding. 

Partial Helmet Law: Only requires

specific groups of people, such as those 

below a certain age, to wear helmets. 

Each state decides its respective helmet law. 

As of 2010, 20 states and the District of Columbia had universal helmet laws, 27 states had a 

partial helmet law, and 3 states had no helmet 

law. Many states have weakened their helmet law 

over the years, while a few states have strengthened their helmet law.41

The research on states that change their 

helmet law is very clear: 

•	 When a state enacts a universal 

helmet law, helmet use increases 

substantially.3, 34, 35, 36, 37

•	 When a state repeals a universal 

helmet law, helmet use decreases 

substantially.3, 38, 39, 40

•	 When a state repeals a universal 

helmet law, motorcycle deaths and 

injuries increase.3

UNIVERSAL HELMET LAWS INCREASE HELMET USE

Under partial/no law Under universal law

Nebraska (1989*)

Washington (1990*)

California (1992*)

Maryland (1992*)

Louisiana (2004*)

* Year of enactment

80%

99%

81%

99%

85%

41%

50%

25%

60%

15%

Under universal law Under partial law

Arkansas (1997*)

Texas (1997*)

Kentucky (1998*)

Louisiana (1999*)

Florida (2000*)

Pennsylvania (2003*)

* Year of repeal

97%

96%

100%

99%

82%

97%

66%

65%

52%

53%

58%

52%

All five states gained a substantial increase in helmet use in the year after the universal helmet law 

was enacted.

All six states showed a substantial decrease in helmet use in the year after the universal helmet law 

was repealed.

THE POSITIVE IMPACT OF STRENGTHENING HELMET LAWS

THE NEGATIVE IMPACT OF WEAKENING HELMET LAWS

Rate of helmet use before and after repealing a universal helmet law3, 38, 39, 40

Rate of helmet use before and after enacting a universal helmet law3, 34, 35, 36, 37

Journal of Public Health Policy3
14

THE FLORIDA CASE STUDY

DEATHS INCREASE FOR RIDERS COVERED BY 

PARTIAL HELMET LAWS

Florida is one example of the ineffectiveness of partial laws to save lives. In 2000, Florida repealed its universal helmet law, weakening it to mandate 

helmet use only for riders under the age of 21 and those with less than $10,000 

of medical insurance coverage.39, 41

Comparing the 30 months after the Florida state legislature repealed its

universal helmet law with the 30 months before repeal:

•	 Deaths of all riders increased by 55%, substantially higher than what 

was expected from the increased registrations after repeal.29,39

•	 Among riders under the age of 21, deaths of unhelmeted riders 

increased by 188%, even though the helmet law still applied to 

them.29, 39

•	 Motorcycle crash-related hospitalizations rose more than 40%. The 

costs of treating head injuries from motorcycle crashes more than 

doubled to $44 million.29, 39

Only one in four motorcyclists who were hospitalized had medical costs

less than $10,000, which is the amount of medical insurance coverage that is 

required to ride without a helmet. Hospital discharge data showed that in the

period after repeal, approximately $10.5 million of hospitalization costs were 

billed to charitable and public sources such as Medicaid, and an additional $8 

million needed to be covered by patients who were underinsured or

uninsured.29, 39 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration39

THE NEGATIVE IMPACT OF WEAKENING

HELMET LAWS: FLORIDA

Number of deaths of riders under 21 in 30 months before

vs. after repeal.

BEFORE REPEAL

AFTER REPEAL

35

101
15

PARTIAL LAWS — WHAT THEY LIMIT

Age: Riders under a specific age, which ranges between 18-21 years, are 

required to wear helmets. Applies in all 27 states with partial laws.41

Passengers: Passengers are required to wear helmets if they are under a

certain age or riding with drivers that are legally required to wear helmets.

Applies in Colorado, Maine, North Dakota, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. Alaska

and Rhode Island require all passengers to wear helmets.41

Insurance: Florida mandates that motorcycle riders wear helmets unless they 

have a minimum of $10,000 of insurance. Kentucky and Texas have a law in 

place requiring anyone without health insurance to wear a helmet.41

Licensing: Riders with an instructional or learner’s permit or those who

are recently licensed are required to wear helmets, regardless of age. 

Applies in Alaska, Kentucky, Maine, Minnesota, Ohio, Pennsylvania,

Rhode Island, and Wisconsin.41

PARTIAL LAWS — WHY THEY DON’T WORK

Research shows that partial helmet laws do not motivate riders to wear helmets.39, 42 States with partial laws and states with no helmet law 

experience little difference in helmet use.44 Even though all partial helmet 

laws apply to minors, fewer than 40% of minors killed in motorcycle crashes 

in partial-law states were wearing helmets.29 Among young riders who were 

hospitalized after a crash, the risk of suffering a serious traumatic brain injury 

was 37% higher in partial law states compared to universal law states.45 Only 

the universal helmet law is proven to increase helmet use.5

Compliance is low because partial helmet laws are difficult to enforce.

Identifying partial law violations is problematic. As a result, partial helmet 

laws are typically only enforced when a police officer has pulled a rider over 

for another infraction, such as speeding.46

MOTORCYCLE DEATHS AND PARTIAL HELMET LAWS

One Florida high school senior was planning to attend college to study business and landscaping on a scholarship. He was 

involved in his high school drama club, played on the basketball team, ran track, and was a member of the Students Against 

Destructive Decisions Club. 

Hours before his high school graduation, while riding his motorcycle without a helmet, this teenager crashed and died. Under 

Florida’s partial helmet law he should have been wearing a helmet — he was, after all, under 21 years of age.

But like many other motorcyclists in states with partial helmet laws, he didn’t wear a helmet. 

He paid the price with his life.43

A CASUALTY
16

HELMET LAWS SAVE LIVES AND MONEY

MOTORCYCLE HELMET LAWS IN THE UNITED STATES, 2010 HOW DOES YOUR 

STATE MEASURE UP?

In 2008, 42% of motorcyclists who 

were fatally injured were unhelmeted. Helmets saved over 1,800 

riders’ lives, but about 800 more 

lives could have been saved if all 

the riders had worn helmets.47

On average, states protecting

motorcycle riders with a universal helmet law save 40 riders per 

100,000 motorcycle registrations 

because of helmet use, while 

states with no law only save 6

riders per 100,000 motorcycle 

registrations, and states with partial 

helmet laws only save 14 riders per 

100,000 motorcycle registrations 

because of their lower rates of 

helmet use.47

When the economic costs are 

calculated, states with universal 

helmet laws, on average, save

triple the costs per registered 

motorcycle, compared to states 

without a universal helmet law.

Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, Highway Loss Data Institute41

 Universal Helmet Law  Partial Helmet Law  No Helmet Law
17

Annual dollars saved by helmet use per registered motorcycle by state, 2008

Note: For comparison purposes, lives saved are standardized by motorcycle registrations (per 100,000 registrations)

for each state.

Note: For comparison purposes, money saved is standardized by motorcycle registrations for each state.

Lives saved by helmet use per 100,000 registered motorcycles by state, 2008

 Universal Helmet Law  Partial Helmet Law  No Helmet Law

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration47, 48

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 $0 $200 $400 $600 $800 $1000 $1200

North Carolina

Mississippi

Maryland

Virginia

Georgia

Tennessee

Missouri

West Virginia

Louisiana

Nevada

California

Alabama

Kentucky

Arizona

Oregon

Texas

New Jersey

New York

Florida

Michigan

Arkansas

Nebraska

Washington

Delaware

Connecticut

Pennsylvania

South Carolina

Idaho

Massachusetts

Wyoming

Colorado

Vermont

Utah

Oklahoma

Ohio

Indiana

Rhode Island

Kansas

Alaska

New Hampshire

Hawaii

Montana

Illinois

North Dakota

Maine

South Dakota

Wisconsin

Minnesota

Iowa

New Mexico

Maryland

North Carolina

Virginia

Georgia

Mississippi

Missouri

California

Nevada

Tennessee

West Virginia

Louisiana

Kentucky

Alabama

New Jersey

New York

Arizona

Oregon

Michigan

Texas

Florida

Connecticut

Washington

Massachusetts

Delaware

Nebraska

Arkansas

Pennsylvania

Colorado

Idaho

South Carolina

Wyoming

Vermont

Alaska

Utah

Rhode Island

Ohio

Oklahoma

New Hampshire

Indiana

Hawaii

Kansas

Illinois

Montana

North Dakota

Maine

South Dakota

Wisconsin

Minnesota

Iowa

New Mexico

LIVES SAVED MONEY SAVED
18

Senator Michael Oliverio

West Virginia State Senate

“...vast majorities of the American people accept and support

the idea that on safety issues it is desireable and necessary

for government to set standards and enforce laws designed

to protect the public.”

“During our consideration of the motorcycle helmet law, I

became aware that the vast majority of my constituents

were in favor of maintaining our mandatory helmet usage

law: Mothers, Doctors, Safety Activists, Seniors, Epilepsy

Experts, Hospitals and Law Enforcement Officials. I will

always be proud of my vote. I saved lives.”

49

Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety8
19

Public support for mandatory helmet laws is high across the board — in states with a universal law, states with a partial law, and states with no law.

SUPPORT OF LAWS MANDATING HELMET USE BY TYPE OF STATE

STRONG PUBLIC SUPPORT 

•	 Overall, 4 out of 5 Americans favor mandatory helmet laws.6, 7, 8, 9

•	 The majority of motorcyclists also favor mandated helmet use.6, 7

•	 This high level of support has remained consistent for many years — even 

at times when many states have weakened and/or rescinded their universal helmet laws.6, 7, 8, 9

SUPPORTERS OF MOTORCYCLE SAFETY

HELMET LAWS

These are just some of the organizations that support motorcyclehelmet laws:

•	 AAA Foundation

•	 American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials

•	 American Academy of Orthopedics

•	 American Academy of Pediatrics

•	 American College of Surgeons

•	 American Public Health Association

•	 Brain Injury Association

•	 Emergency Nurses Association

•	 Epilepsy Foundation of America

•	 National Safety Council 

•	 Nationwide Insurance

•	 SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions)

•	 ThinkFirst National Injury Prevention Foundation 

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration6

As a rider and a trauma nurse, I would always recommend that riders wear a helmet. I see so much death, loss, 

grief, and trauma from riders and the loved ones they leave behind because of motorcycle crashes. If laws are 

what work to get people to wear a helmet, then we should have strong laws in place nationally.

Carlen Hudnet, RN 50

A RIDER, A NURSE

100%

80%

60%

40%

20%

0%

People Living

in States with

Universal Laws

Percentage in Support of Law

Type of State

People Living

in States with

Partial Laws

People Living

in States with

No Law

84%

75%

79%
20

Do helmet laws interfere with a person’s freedom to choose whether to wear

a helmet?

Yes. Many laws restrict people’s freedom to perform behaviors judged contrary to the public good. These 

include drunk driving laws, cellphone use laws, and infectious disease quarantine laws, to name a few. 

Courts usually uphold such laws as important to the nation’s well-being. 

Don’t helmets make it harder for riders to see or hear?

No. Helmets that meet the DOT standard do not reduce visibility or impair hearing. By protecting people’s 

heads in crashes, helmets only make riding safer. 

If a motorcyclist chooses not to wear a helmet, does it only affect him?

No, not if the rider crashes. Unhelmeted riders injured in a crash have substantially higher healthcare costs 

than helmeted riders. When the rider is insured, these costs are passed on to others in the form of higher 

health insurance premiums. Unhelmeted riders are more likely to be uninsured than other riders. When the 

riders are uninsured, their medical expenses may be paid for using taxpayers’ funds. 

Can motorcycle safety education substitute for helmet laws? 

No. The benefits of motorcycle safety education are unclear. A universal helmet law is the most effective 

way to reduce the number of people who are seriously injured or killed from motorcycle crashes.

Are universal helmet laws really that much better than partial helmet laws?

Yes. There is strong, substantial, and clear evidence that universal helmet laws save lives and save 

money. This is not true for partial laws. When a universal helmet law is enacted, helmet use dramatically 

increases, and states see an across-the-board decrease in deaths. If states repeal the law, they see an 

increase in deaths.

Do people want the government to regulate helmet use for adult motorcyclists?

Yes. National surveys in 2000, 2004, 2009, and 2010 have consistently shown that more than 80% of

Americans favor universal helmet laws.

FAQs
21

QUICK FACTS

•	 The single most effective way for states to save lives and save money is a

universal helmet law.

•	 Helmets reduce the risk of death by 37%.

•	 Helmets reduce the risk of head injury by 69%.

•	 The United States saved nearly $3 billion due to helmet use in 2008.

•	 The United States could have saved an additional $1.3 billion in 2008 if all

motorcyclists had worn helmets.

•	 Helmets do not reduce visibility or impair hearing.

What can policymakers do?

States should have universal helmet laws, which help save lives and money.

States with a partial helmet law or no helmet law should enact a universal helmet law.

WHAT CAN BE DONE

LEGISLATING MOTORCYCLE SAFETY:

A PUBLIC HEALTH PERSPECTIVE
22

AAA Foundation

607 14th Street NW

Suite 201

Washington, D.C. 20005

(202) 638-5944

http://www.aaafoundation.org

Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety

750 First Street NE

Suite 901 

Washington, D.C. 20002 

(202) 408-1711

http://www.saferoads.org

American College of Emergency 

Physicians

1125 Executive Circle

Irving, TX 75038

(972) 550-0911

http://www.acep.org

American College of Surgeons

633 N. Saint Clair Street

Chicago, IL 60611

(312) 202-5000

http://www.facs.org

Brain Injury Association of America

1608 Spring Hill Road

Suite 110

Vienna, VA 22182

(703) 761-0750

http://www.biausa.org

Emergency Nurses Association

915 Lee Street

Des Plaines, IL 60016-6569

(800) 900-9659

http://www.ena.org

Governors Highway Safety Association

444 North Capitol Street NW

Suite 722

Washington, D.C. 20001

(202) 789-0942

http://www.ghsa.org

Head Protection Research Laboratory

6409 Alondra Boulevard

Paramount, CA 90723

(562) 529-3295

http://www.hprl.org 

Insurance Institute for Highway Safety

1005 N. Glebe Road

Suite 800

Arlington, VA 22201

(703) 247-1500

http://www.iihs.org 

Motorcycle Safety Foundation

2 Jenner Street

Suite 150

Irvine, CA 92618

(800) 446-9227

http://www.msf-usa.org

National Center for Injury Prevention and Control

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

1600 Clifton Road

Atlanta, GA 30333

(800) 232-4636

http://www.cdc.gov

National Conference of State Legislatures

7700 East First Place

Denver, CO 80230

(303) 364-7700 

http://www.ncsl.org

MOTORCYCLE SAFETY RESOURCES
23

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

1200 New Jersey Avenue SE

West Building

Washington, D.C. 20590

(888) 327-4236

Hearing Impaired (TTY): (800) 424-9153

http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov

National Transportation Safety Board

490 L’Enfant Plaza SW 

Washington, D.C. 20594 

(202) 314-6000

http://www.ntsb.gov

SMARTER

(Skilled Motorcyclist Association-Responsible, 

Trained and Educated Riders, Inc.)

P.O. Box 121

Scottville, MI 49454-0121

http://www.smarter-usa.org

ThinkFirst National Injury Prevention Foundation

1801 N. Mill Street

Suite F

Naperville, IL 60563

(630) 961-1400

(800) THINK-56 (844-6556)

http://www.thinkfirst.org

Transportation Research Board

The National Academies

500 Fifth Street NW

Washington, D.C. 20001

(202) 334-2934

http://www.trb.org

World Health Organization

Helmet Initiative

http://www.whohelmets.org/mhrc.htm

info@whohelmets.org

Helmets: a road safety manual for decision-makers and 

practitioners. Available at: http://www.who.int/roadsafety/projects/manuals/helmet_manual/en/
24

ENDNOTES

1. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. 

Fatality Analysis Reporting System: 1997-2008. 

Washington (DC): National Highway Traffic Safety 

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http://www.cdc.gov/injury

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