WASHINGTON–The National Transportation Safety Board has offered a series of recommendations to state lawmakers across the country, calling for more of them to enact laws requiring motorcyclists and their passengers to wear helmets.

“The facts are very clear–head injuries are a leading cause of deaths in motorcycle crashes,” said NTSB Chairman Mark Rosenker. Wearing a helmet, he added, is “the most important step riders can take in terms of protecting themselves and staying alive.”

Presently, only 20 states, the District of Columbia and 4 territories have universal helmet laws requiring all riders to wear a helmet. An additional 27 states and one territory have partial laws that require minors and/or passengers to wear such helmets, while three states have no helmet laws.

“Universal helmet laws have proven effective in the mitigation of injuries and the prevention of fatalities. Implementing these recommendations will take strong leadership in the states,” Mr. Rosenker said. “I hope that the governors and legislative leaders in the states will act promptly and decisively to implement the universal helmet laws recommended today by the board.”

Since 1997, motorcycle fatalities have increased 127 percent, according to the NTSB. Last year, 4,810 motorcyclists died in crashes, accounting for more than 10 percent of all motor vehicle crash fatalities.

The American Insurance Association applauded the recommendation, echoing the NTSB's call for more helmet laws.

“AIA has long advocated for mandatory helmet use laws,” said David Snyder, AIA vice president and assistant general counsel. “We are pleased to see the NTSB for the first time make this recommendation.”

Mr. Snyder noted that studies have shown a decrease in the likelihood of a crash fatality by 30-to-40 percent if a helmet is worn, and a decrease in the chances of a serious injury of 20 percent. “Riders that don't wear helmets are three-times more likely than helmeted riders to sustain costly traumatic brain injuries,” he added.

Additionally, the NTSB called on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to reprioritize its motorcycle safety recommendations based on objective criteria, including known safety outcomes, and for the Federal Highway Administration to develop guidelines for the states to use to gather accurate motorcycle registrations and motorcycle vehicle miles traveled data.

Special Reports /

NTSB Urges Motorcycle Helmet Laws For States

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