Helmet Laws: Cycling And The Evolution Of Safety Standards

The use of bicycle helmets has been a topic of debate for decades, with some arguing for their effectiveness in reducing head injuries and others expressing concerns about individual liberty. While there is no federal law in the US that requires bicycle helmets, the enactment of helmet laws varies at the state and local levels. The first mandatory helmet law for bicycle riders in the US was passed in 1989 in Howard County, Maryland, following the death of a child. This law initially applied to all riders but was later amended to only target those under 16. As of now, 22 states, including the District of Columbia, have state-wide laws, and more than 200 localities have local ordinances regarding bicycle helmets, with most laws focusing on youth riders aged 18 or younger. The fines for non-compliance differ across jurisdictions, and some states, like California, offer a fix-it ticket option, allowing riders to provide proof of purchase of a helmet that meets the standards to avoid a fine.

Bicycle helmet laws in the US

There is no federal law in the US requiring bicycle helmets. However, states and localities began adopting laws in 1987, with California being the first state to propose a helmet law in 1986. Today, 22 states, including the District of Columbia, have state-wide mandatory helmet laws, and more than 200 localities have local ordinances. Most of these laws are limited to children under 18, but there are 49 all-ages laws.

The laws vary by jurisdiction and the age of the cyclist. For example, in California, the law requires riders under 18 to wear helmets, while in Florida, the law requires all riders under 16 to wear a helmet unless they are in a private driveway. In some states, like Arizona, there is no state-wide law, but certain cities require riders under 18 to wear helmets.

The fines for non-compliance also differ by jurisdiction. In New York and California, the first violation is written off if the person provides proof of purchase of a helmet that meets the standards. Upon subsequent violations, the person is charged with a fine of not more than $50 and $20 respectively. In other areas, bikers can be charged between $25-$50 for the first offense and $100 for any subsequent offenses.

While there is no universal law requiring people to wear bicycle helmets in the US, helmet use has been estimated to reduce the odds of head injury by 50%, and the odds of head, face, or neck injury by 33%. Helmet laws reduce fatalities from bicycle accidents by about 15% in the long run.

Bicycle helmet laws by state

The requirement to wear bicycle helmets in the United States varies by jurisdiction and the age of the cyclist. While there is no federal law requiring bicycle helmets, 22 states, including the District of Columbia, have state-wide laws, and more than 200 localities have local ordinances. Here is a breakdown of bicycle helmet laws by state:

Alabama

State law requires bike riders under 16 to wear helmets statewide.

Alaska

Cities in Alaska vary between mandating helmets for riders under 18 and those under 16.

Arizona

Arizona has no state-wide law, but specific cities, including Phoenix, require bike riders under 18 to wear helmets.

California

California law mandates that riders under 18 wear helmets, including when riding skateboards, scooters, and skates. Bicycle passengers under five must also wear helmets.

Connecticut

State law in Connecticut requires bike riders under 16 to wear helmets.

Delaware

Delaware's bicycle law requires riders under 18 to wear helmets.

District of Columbia

The District of Columbia mandates that riders under 16 wear helmets.

Florida

Florida law requires all riders under 16 to wear helmets statewide, unless they are in a private driveway.

Georgia

State law in Georgia mandates that riders under 16 wear helmets.

Hawaii

In Hawaii, riders under 16 must wear helmets.

Illinois

In Illinois, laws vary by city. For example, Chicago requires messengers and delivery riders of all ages to wear helmets.

Kansas

While there is no statewide law in Kansas, the city of Lawrence requires riders under 18 to wear helmets.

Kentucky

Although Kentucky has no statewide law, Louisville parks mandate that riders under 18 wear helmets.

Louisiana

Louisiana law requires that children under 12 years of age wear helmets.

Maine

In Maine, those under 16 are required to wear helmets when riding a bicycle.

Maryland

Maryland laws require riders under 16 to wear helmets.

Massachusetts

State law in Massachusetts mandates that bike riders under 17 wear helmets.

Michigan

There is no statewide law in Michigan, but certain cities, like Detroit, have their own bicycle helmet laws.

Mississippi

Mississippi has no statewide law, but some municipalities, like Jackson, have all-age helmet laws.

Missouri

Missouri has no statewide law, but several municipalities, like Kansas City, have all-age laws or require riders 16 and younger to wear helmets.

Montana

Montana has no statewide law, but Billings requires those under 16 to wear helmets.

Nevada

Certain Indian reservations in Nevada, such as the Duckwater Indian Reservation, require bike riders under 17 to wear helmets.

New Hampshire

State law in New Hampshire mandates that riders under 16 wear bicycle helmets.

New Jersey

New Jersey law states that riders 16 years of age and younger must wear helmets.

New Mexico

In New Mexico, riders under 18 must wear bike helmets.

New York

State law in New York requires riders 13 and younger to wear helmets.

North Carolina

North Carolina law mandates that riders under 16 wear helmets.

Ohio

Although there is no statewide law in Ohio, several municipalities, like Cleveland, have their own age-specific requirements.

Oklahoma

Oklahoma has no statewide law, but Norman and Oklahoma City have age-specific laws.

Oregon

State law in Oregon requires riders under 16 to wear helmets.

Pennsylvania

State law in Pennsylvania mandates that children under 12 wear helmets.

Rhode Island

Rhode Island law requires riders under 16 to wear bicycle helmets.

Tennessee

Tennessee mandates that riders under 16 wear helmets.

Texas

While there is no statewide law in Texas, many municipalities, like Dallas, have their own age-specific laws.

Virginia

Virginia has no statewide law, but several municipalities, like Alexandria, require riders under 15 to wear helmets.

Washington

Washington has no statewide law, but several cities, like Seattle, have helmet laws for riders of all ages.

West Virginia

State law in West Virginia requires riders 14 and younger to wear helmets.

Wisconsin

Wisconsin has no statewide law, but Port Washington requires helmet use for riders under 17.

States with No Substantial Bicycle Helmet Laws

The following states have neither a state-wide bicycle helmet law nor any substantial local bicycle helmet laws: Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, South Carolina, Utah, Vermont, and Wyoming.

Bicycle helmet laws and fines

There is no federal law in the U.S. requiring bicycle helmets. However, 22 states, including the District of Columbia, and more than 200 localities do require riders to wear a helmet. These include Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.

State and local laws vary, with most targeting youth riders aged 18 or younger. In Alabama, for instance, bike riders under 16 must wear helmets statewide. In California, passengers aged 5 and under must wear helmets, while bike riders under 18 and scooter, skateboard, and in-line skate riders under 18 are also required to wear helmets. In Connecticut, bike riders under 16 and e-bike riders of all ages must wear helmets.

There are 13 states with no bike helmet laws in place: Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, South Carolina, Utah, Vermont, and Wyoming.

The fines for not wearing a bicycle helmet vary across jurisdictions. In New York and California, the first violation is written off if the person can provide proof of purchase of a helmet that meets the standards. Subsequent violations incur a fine of up to $50 in New York and $20 in California. In other areas, fines for the first offense range from $25 to $50, and $100 for any further offenses.

In Florida, the fine for not wearing a helmet is $35, while in Seattle, it is $103. Arizona specifies a fine of $25 to $75, and in Pennsylvania, violators are not charged if they buy a helmet, otherwise, they pay a $25 fine. In New Jersey, the fine for the first offense is $25, charged to the parent or legal guardian, and subsequent offenses can result in a $100 fine if parental supervision contributed to the violation.

History of Bicycle Helmet Laws

The first mandatory bicycle helmet laws in the U.S. were enacted in the early 1990s, following a precedent of motorcycle helmet laws in the 1960s and 1970s. The increasing popularity of cycling in the 1970s and 1980s, due to improved cycle technology and growing environmental consciousness, led to a rise in cycling-related injuries, particularly head injuries. As a result, safety advocates and researchers began to advocate for helmet laws to reduce preventable harm.

The first commercially available bicycle helmet was produced by Bell Helmets Inc. in 1975, using a hard lexan shell covering a polystyrene foam line. The use of bicycle helmets among cyclists increased in the 1980s, with various reports and manufacturers claiming their effectiveness in reducing head injuries. In 1987, localities began adopting bicycle helmet laws, with California proposing the first helmet law in 1986, which was later amended to include bikers under 18. New York adopted a state-wide helmet law in 1989, followed by Massachusetts in 1990.

Bicycle helmet standards

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) bike helmet standard is a legal requirement for any helmet manufactured for the US market. The CPSC standard has been US law since March 10, 1999, and is the most-used standard in the US market and the world. The standard covers all helmets produced for the US market after March 10, 1999. The CPSC standard requires dropping the helmet 2 meters in the flat anvil test. Helmets are tested to ensure they do not block the rider's vision, that they do not come off when the rider falls, that the straps do not stretch enough to allow the helmet to come off in an accident, and that the helmet significantly reduces the force to the rider's head when it hits a hard surface.

The ASTM F1447 standard was the most-used standard before the CPSC standard took effect. It is identical to the CPSC standard in all important respects except one: it is a voluntary standard and was never the law of the land in the US. It is self-certifying, so a manufacturer can put a sticker in their helmets stating that they meet the ASTM standard without independent certification. The ASTM standard is still in effect but now is little used.

The Snell Memorial Foundation sets a somewhat higher standard, with a 2.2-meter drop. However, most helmets with a Snell sticker meet only their earlier standard, with a 2-meter drop comparable to ASTM. Snell tests helmets independently to certify them and retests samples bought from stores.

The ANSI standard was replaced by ASTM. It was too easy to meet and has been declared obsolete by ANSI as of February 1995.

Other countries' standards include the superior Australian standard, the rigorous Canadian standard, the CEN standard that covers all European member states, the New Zealand standard (which has merged with Australia's), and the Japanese standard.

Bicycle helmet laws internationally

The laws concerning the wearing of bicycle helmets vary around the world. While some countries have enforced universal helmet laws, others have partial rules, and some have no federal laws at all. Here is a breakdown of bicycle helmet laws in different countries and regions:

• Australia was the first country to enact mandatory bicycle helmet use for all cyclists. Compliance with the law is high, but it varies across regions, with some cities having over 90% compliance and rural areas much lower.
• In the United States, there is no federal law requiring bicycle helmets. However, 22 states, including the District of Columbia, have state-wide laws, and more than 200 localities have local ordinances. These laws mostly apply to children under a certain age, but there are also 49 all-ages laws.
• Canada has provincial and local helmet laws that vary across provinces and territories. For example, in British Columbia and New Brunswick, the use of bicycle helmets is compulsory for all ages, while in Alberta, Manitoba, and Ontario, it is mandatory only for cyclists under 18.
• New Zealand implemented a national helmet law in January 1994, which has led to a reduction in head injuries among cyclists.
• In Europe, some countries have mandatory helmet laws for all cyclists, such as Malta and Slovenia. Other countries have partial rules, like France, where helmet use is mandatory only for children. The United Kingdom has opposed mandatory helmet laws, arguing that it should be a personal choice.
• In Asia, countries like Japan and the United Arab Emirates have enacted national helmet laws. Japan's law requires children under 13 to wear helmets, while the UAE's law applies to all ages.
• Latin America has varying approaches to bicycle helmet laws. For example, Mexico City repealed its mandatory helmet law in 2010 to support a shared bicycle rental program, while some cities in the Philippines, such as Quezon City, have local helmet mandate laws.

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