You've heard that riding without a helmet is dangerous but that didn't stop you ditching the helmet and riding free across the country. You are aware of the risks of riding without a helmet but are confident that you can steer yourself to safety even in an unexpected collision. What's the worst that could happen? You become another motorcycle statistic and get your fifteen minutes of fame on Rotten.com. It sounds like an open and shut case...

Motorcycle Helmet Law Arguments

To be fair, there is another side to the great motorcycle helmet laws debate. Some people opposing motorcycle helmet laws claim that wearing a helmet is distracting, too bulky and that by throwing off their concentration it is actually more dangerous riding with a helmet than without one. Other motorcyclists don't try to debate – they simply want the right to choose helmet or no helmet. The problem is that due to some motorcycle helmet laws it is not always a biker's right. Websites such as BikersRights.com argues that the statistics do not support the conclusion that wearing a helmet is absolutely effective in the event of a wreck, which may be injurious or fatal regardless of a helmet.

States With Motorcycle Helmet Laws

Every state has different motorcycle helmet laws. The only states that are totally free of motorcycle helmet laws are Colorado, Iowa, Illinois and New Hampshire. 20 states have full motorcycle helmet laws and have their own specific regulations as to what constitutes a safety helmet. These states include Alabama, California, Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, Washington and West Virginia. 19 states have motorcycle helmet use laws that exempt adult riders over the age of 18. These states include Alaska, Arizona, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Maine, Minnesota, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Utah, Wisconsin and Wyoming. 7 states have helmet law motorcycle stipulations requiring exempt bikers to be over 21. These states include Arkansas, Florida, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina and Texas. There are also some laws that include an insurance compromise, that offer more leeway if insurance is purchased as part of a “public burden theory”, suggesting that bikers without helmets put a liability on a community. Obviously, this motorcycle helmet use law has earned many opposers who against motorcycle helmet law, particularly when insurance companies are the only ones profiting from the ugly situation.

Motorcycle Helmet Law Opposers

There are several organizations that oppose motorcycle helmet law. In addition to BikersRights.com, there is also organizations like Freedom Of Road Riders and the Helmet Law Defense League (Usff.com). Some of these organizations monitor helmet laws and court cases in various states and have a motorcycle helmet law petition. If you are motorcyclist who oppose the helmet law and want to learn more about helmet laws for motorcycle visit BikersRights.com. Usff.com has an excellent breakdown of motorcycle helmet laws by state. Know the law before you protest it!