Helmet laws translate into increased helmet usage. Helmet laws translate into lives saved. Helmet laws increase helmet usage which in turn saves lives and reduces head trauma. The most accurate reflection of a state s helmet use law is through the comparison of that state s motorcycle crash-related fatalities before and after enactment or repeal a helmet law for all riders. When these laws are repealed, helmet use decreases, and injuries and associated costs increase, far exceeding the number of new motorcycles registered.
Motorcyclist fatalities increase when a helmet law is repealed.
These results are consistent in every state where studies on the effectiveness of motorcycle helmet laws have been conducted. The data continue to prove that motorcycle helmet laws save lives. Government and privately conducted studies support the effectiveness of helmets and the impact of helmet laws in reducing the number of serious injuries and fatalities. The results of some of these studies are cited below. If all motorcyclists in all 50 states and the District of Columbia had worn a helmet, that number would have been 769.