Helmet Laws Research Paper

Words: 2191
Pages: 9

Should Motorcyclists be Required by Law to Wear a Helmet?
Wearing a helmet is not required by law in most states. In fact, numerous states that have imposed helmet laws have repealed them due to pressure from riding groups. The main reason people would like to impose helmet laws is to decrease traumatic brain injuries and death during motorcycle accidents. Inherently, reducing traumatic brain injuries would also decrease medical expenses incurred by states. Wearing a certified DOT helmet is important for the reason that it reduces the risk of dying in a motorcycle accident and reduces the likelihood of severe head injuries making a helmet extremely important to wear.
A majority of riders who do not wear helmets feel that they will lose their freedom from external influences and that wearing a helmet is a personal choice, notably, that to
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Additionally, over 80,000 novelty helmets are sold each year and were first popularized by riders who wanted low profile, stylish helmets made mandatory by state helmet laws. According to the NHTSA estimates, between 438 and 754 riders and passengers die each year because novelty helmets do not offer any protection on impact during crashes. Similarly, Certified Department of Transportation (DOT) helmets are estimated to save close to 1500 lives each year. Many foreign governments have cracked down on the use of novelty helmets. While the NHTSA in the United States has a study showing them to be useless in crashes, however, they have been silenced by biker groups across the country along with congressional pressure, so at this point they have no plans to prohibit the sale of these deadly helmets