As of 2019, Illinois does not require that anyone who operates or is a passenger on a motorcycle wears a helmet while the motorcycle is in operation. Ours is one of only three states that do not require some form of helmet usage. Illinois does have laws requiring riders to use safety goggles that should provide frontal protection and also protect the sides. However, there are federal laws on motorcycle helmets. The Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 218, enacted by the U.S. Department of Transportation, does have standards for how motorcycle helmets should be designed and manufactured. The 218 standards require that helmets provide protection for specific speeds and the different levels of impact.