Motorcycle & Bicycle Helmet Laws

Requiring helmet wearing - by law - is an effective strategy to increase helmet use and to reduce death and injury. Laws requiring motorcycle helmet use increase helmet wearing to 99 percent. Bicycle helmet laws increase wearing rates to between 70 and 90 percent. We will report on some of this research on helmet laws, helmet use, and injury decreases in the near future.

Below are links to tables that list helmet wearing laws - for motorcycles and bicycles - in various countries and U.S. States. The information provided in these links is constantly changing, and although we try to keep current, occasionally these listings may be out of date. We would be interested to know about any changes or corrections to this listing. Please let us know about helmet legislation in your area.

• Motorcycle Helmet Laws
  Information has been obtained from the United Nations Economic and Social Council and the Motorcycle Safety Foundation

• Bicycle Helmet Laws
  The Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute (BHSI) maintains a listing of bicycle helmet laws in jurisdictions throughout the world. Contact BHSI directly if you have questions or corrections.

Updated October 14, 2004