Bicycle Helmet Laws in All 50 States

Bicycle helmet laws have been evolving across the United States at both the state and local levels for the past few decades. There is no comprehensive federal legislation covering bicycle helmets at this time.

Approximately half of the states have laws requiring a child to wear a helmet on the books. Several cities and municipalities have adopted similar measures. It is essential to know the details about the particular state, county, city, or municipality to know what laws are in place for bicyclists.

The best resource for understanding the applicable bicycle helmet laws for where you live is to contact a local personal injury attorney.

Statistics on Bicycle Injury

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports approximately 800 fatalities among bicycle riders in an average year. An average of about 45,400 suffer injury, and these numbers appear to be on the rise as travel to and from work increases.

A Brief Overview of Helmet Laws in States Across America

Helmet laws vary widely across America. For example, while Kentucky law doesn’t require bicycle riders or passengers to wear helmets unless they’re in Louisville, Florida requires that every bicycle rider under the age of 16 wear a helmet unless they are in a private driveway.

Every state and municipality with a bicycle helmet law holds different penalties and punishments for those who violate it. Some states extend their laws to include in-line skates and scooters, while others say that no helmets are needed if the rider is in a cul-de-sac or other dead-end street. There are even cases where the state and local laws disagree. For example, some states have a state-wide law that all bike riders under 16 must wear a helmet, while certain cities have laws that everyone must wear a helmet.

The states that currently have bicycle helmet laws are:

• Alabama – Bike riders under 16 must wear helmets statewide.
• Alaska – Cities in Alaska vary between requiring helmets for riders under 18 and for riders under 16.
• Arizona – No state-wide law, but certain cities in Arizona require bike riders under 18 to wear helmets.
• California – State law requires riders under 18 to wear helmets, including when riding skateboards, scooters, and skates. Bicycle passengers under five must wear helmets.
• Connecticut – State law requires bike riders under 16 to wear helmets.
• Delaware – Delaware requires riders under 18 to wear helmets.
• District of Columbia – The law throughout D.C. requires riders under 16 to wear helmets.
• Florida – Helmets are required for all riders under 16 statewide.
• Georgia – Riders under 16 statewide must wear a helmet.
• Hawaii – Riders under 16 throughout the state must wear helmets.
• Illinois – Laws vary by city. Chicago, for example, requires messengers and delivery riders of all ages to wear helmets.
• Kansas – No statewide law exists, but the city of Lawrence requires riders under 18 to wear helmets.
• Kentucky – No statewide law exists, but Louisville parks require riders under 18 to wear helmets.
• Louisiana – Helmets are required for children under 12 years of age.
• Maine – Maine requires those under 16 to wear helmets when riding a bicycle.
• Maryland – Maryland laws require riders under 16 to have helmets.
• Massachusetts – Bike riders under 17 are required to wear helmets statewide.
• Michigan – No statewide law exists, but certain cities have varying laws.
• Mississippi – No statewide law exists, but some municipalities have all-age helmet laws.
• Missouri – No statewide law exists, but several municipalities have all-age laws or require riders 16 and younger to wear helmets.
• Montana – No statewide law exists, but Billings requires those under 16 to wear helmets.
• Nevada – Certain Indian reservations require bike riders under 17 to wear helmets.
• New Hampshire – State law requires riders under 16 years old to wear bicycle helmets.
• New Jersey – Riders 16 years of age and younger statewide must wear helmets.
• New Mexico – Riders under 18 must wear bike helmets.
• New York – State law requires riders 13 and younger to wear helmets.
• North Carolina – State law requires that riders under 16 wear helmets while riding.
• Ohio – No statewide law exists, but several municipalities hold their own age-specific requirements.
• Oklahoma – No statewide law exists, but Norman and Oklahoma City have age-specific laws.
• Oregon – State law requires riders under 16 to wear helmets while riding.
• Pennsylvania – Children under 12 years old statewide must wear helmets.
• Rhode Island – Riders under 16 must wear bicycle helmets.
• Tennessee – State law requires riders under 16 to wear helmets.
• Texas – No statewide law exists, but many municipalities have their own age-specific laws.
• Virginia – No statewide law exists, but several municipalities require riders under 15 to wear helmets.
• Washington – No statewide law exists, but several cities have helmet laws for riders of all ages.
• West Virginia – State law requires riders 14 years of age and younger to wear helmets.
• Wisconsin – No statewide law exists, but Port Washington requires helmet use for riders under 17.

If a state does not appear on the above list, that state has neither a state-wide bicycle helmet law nor any substantial local bicycle helmet laws.

Choosing a Bike Helmet

When selecting a bike helmet for you or your child, you’ll need to find one that fits well and provides decent protection in case of an accident. You’ll want to search for a CPSC sticker somewhere on the helmet. This shows that the helmet meets U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission standards. You’ll also want to select a helmet with a smooth outer shell and no snag points or sharp edges. Brighter helmets will be easier for motorists to see. Be wary of choosing helmets with too many vents, as these can increase pressure on a few points in an impact.

Keeping Safe While Biking

Accidents involving bicyclists are dangerous, even with a helmet on. It’s essential to keep as safe as possible by preventing further injury with a helmet.

Failure to wear a helmet or provide one for a child in a place with helmet laws could result in fines or other penalties. In a collision with a vehicle, a helmet could be the difference between traumatic and minor injuries. If injuries occur due to a driver’s negligence or the failure of a helmet to function correctly during an accident, an injured victim may be able to seek compensation from the driver at fault or the helmet manufacturer with the help of an attorney.

But every state and every situation is different. Much depends on the location and the circumstances of the incident. If you have been injured due to someone else’s negligence, contact an experienced personal injury attorney immediately. They will be able to assess your case, assess the fault of the driver or whoever caused your injuries, and generally discuss the strengths of your case with you.