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Table 2-5: Helmet Use Laws: 20061
Excel | CSV
Alabama |
All riders |
Younger than 16 |
Alaska |
Younger than 18 2 |
No law |
Arizona |
Younger than 18 |
No law |
Arkansas |
Younger than 21 |
No law |
California |
All riders |
Younger than 18 |
Colorado |
No law |
No law |
Connecticut |
Younger than 18 |
Younger than 16 |
Delaware |
Younger than 19 |
Younger than 16 |
District of Columbia |
All riders |
Younger than 16 |
Florida |
Younger than 21 3 |
Younger than 16 |
Georgia |
All riders |
Younger than 16 |
Hawaii |
Younger than 18 |
Younger than 16 |
Idaho |
Younger than 18 |
No law |
Illinois |
No law |
No law |
Indiana |
Younger than 18 |
No law |
Iowa |
No law |
No law |
Kansas |
Younger than 18 |
No law |
Kentucky |
Younger than 21 3,4 |
No law |
Louisiana |
All riders |
Younger than 12 |
Maine |
Younger than 15 5 |
Younger than 16 |
Maryland |
All riders |
Younger than 16 |
Massachusetts |
All riders |
Younger
than 17 10 |
Michigan |
All riders |
No law |
Minnesota |
Younger than 18 4 |
No law |
Mississippi |
All riders |
No law |
Missouri |
All riders |
No law |
Montana |
Younger than 18 |
No law |
Nebraska |
All riders |
No law |
Nevada |
All riders |
No law |
New Hampshire |
No law |
Younger than 16 |
New Jersey |
All riders |
Younger than 17 |
New Mexico |
Younger than 18 |
No law |
New York |
All riders |
Younger than 14 10 |
North Carolina |
All riders |
Younger than 16 |
North Dakota |
Younger than 18 6 |
No law |
Ohio |
Younger than 18 7 |
No law |
Oklahoma |
Younger than 18 |
No law |
Oregon |
All riders |
Younger than 16 |
Pennsylvania |
Younger than 21 8 |
Younger than 12 |
Rhode Island |
Younger than 21 9 |
Younger than 16 |
South Carolina |
Younger than 21 |
No law |
South Dakota |
Younger than 18 |
No law |
Tennessee |
All riders |
Younger than 16 |
Texas |
Younger than 21 3 |
No law |
Utah |
Younger than 18 |
No law |
Vermont |
All riders |
No law |
Virginia |
All riders |
No law |
Washington |
All riders |
No law |
West Virginia |
All riders |
Younger than 15 |
Wisconsin |
Younger than 18 4 |
No law |
Wyoming |
Younger than 19 |
No law |
1Laws in effect as of June 2006; 2Alaska's motorcycle helmet use law covers passengers of all
ages, drivers younger than 18, and drivers with instructional permits; 3Florida, Kentucky,
and Texas provide exceptions for riders over a certain age. In Florida and
Kentucky, the law requires that all riders younger than 21 years wear
helmets, without exception. In Florida, those 21 years and older may ride
without helmets only if they can show proof that they are covered by a
medical insurance policy. Texas exempts riders 21 years and older if they can
prove they either have successfully completed a motorcycle operator training
and safety course or if they can show proof of having a medical insurance
policy; 4Motorcycle helmet laws in Kentucky, Minnesota, and Wisconsin
also cover drivers with instructional or learner's permits; 5Maine's motorcycle
helmet use law covers passengers 14 years and younger, drivers with learner's
permits, and passengers if their drivers are required to wear a helmet; 6North Dakota's
motorcycle helmet use law covers all passengers travelling with drivers who
are covered by the law;
7Ohio's motorcycle
helmet use law covers all drivers during the first year of licensure and all
passengers; 8Pennsylvania's motorcycle helmet use law covers all drivers
during the first two years of licensure unless the driver has completed the
safety course approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and
the Motorcycle Safety Foundation; 9Rhode Island's motorcycle helmet use law covers all drivers
during the first year of licensure and all passengers; 10Bicycle helmet use
laws in Massachusetts and New York prohibit people from transporting
passengers younger than 1 year old.
SOURCE: Insurance Institute for
Highway Safety-Highway Loss Data Institute, Helmet Use Laws, available
at http://www.iihs.org/laws/state_laws/helmet_current.html as of Oct. 10,
2006.
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