Governors Highway Safety Association
The States' Voice on Highway Safety

Issue Overview

Motorcyclists are overrepresented in crashes and fatalities. 6,335 motorcyclists were killed on U.S. roads in 2023, the most since federal recordkeeping began in 1975 (Overview of Motor Vehicle Traffic Crashes, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration [NHTSA]). Another 82,564 motorcyclists were injured in crashes.

NHTSA provides the following statistics on motorcycle safety in the United States:

States use both national and statewide data to find the right mix of rider education, enforcement and laws to decrease deaths and injuries resulting from motorcycle crashes.

GHSA Policy

State Laws Overview

In 1967, the federal government required states to enact universal motorcycle helmet laws to qualify for certain highway safety funds. By 1975, all but three had complied. In 1976, Congress revoked federal authority to assess penalties for noncompliance, and states began to weaken helmet laws to apply only to young or novice riders.

Currently, about half the states require helmets for all motorcyclists. Most other states require helmets for certain riders, and a few have no helmet law. GHSA urges all states to adopt a universal motorcycle helmet law and vigorously enforce existing laws.

  • 47 states, D.C., Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands have a helmet law for motorcyclists.
    • 17 states, D.C., the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands have a universal helmet law, requiring helmets for all riders.
    • 29 states and Guam require helmets for specific riders.
  • Illinois, Iowa and New Hampshire are the only states that do not have motorcycle helmet laws.

NOTE: GHSA does not compile any additional data on helmet laws other than what is presented here. For more information, consult the appropriate State Highway Safety Office (SHSO).

Sources: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and SHSOs.

Last updated in May 2024. Last reviewed by SHSOs in March 2024.

Alabama

Alaska

Arizona

Arkansas

California

Colorado

Connecticut

Delaware

District of Columbia

Florida

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