The requirement to wear bicycle helmetsin the United States varies by jurisdiction and by age of the cyclist, for example 21 states and the District of Columbia have statewide mandatory helmet laws for children. 29 US states have no statewide law, and 13 of these states have no such laws in any lower-level jurisdiction either. [1]
States began to adopt laws on wearing helmets for bicycle riding in 1987. [1] There are a total of 22 state laws for bicycle helmets and 201 local laws. [1] Each year about 2% of motor vehicle crash deaths are bicyclists. In a majority of bicyclist deaths, the most serious injuries are to the head. [3] 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%. [3]
Helmet laws reduce fatalities from bicycle accidents by about 15% in the long run. There is no evidence that shows laws requiring children to wear helmets increases adult use. [1]
The state of New York reported that since it had introduced its second helmet law in 1994 for riders under 14, the annual rate of cyclists hospitalized from bicycle-related traumatic brain injuries fell from 464 in 1990 to 209 in 1995. There is no way to determine exactly what proportion of the improvement was due to helmet laws, since there is no data on improvements to bicycle facility safety, rider education or total miles ridden in those years, and helmet promotion campaigns by Safe Kids Worldwide and others were active in the state. [1]
By law, all helmets sold in the U.S. must meet standards set by the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC). [4] There were two helmet recalls in the year 2000. [1] A helmet made by Rand International of Farmingdale, NY was voluntarily recalled and involved 70,000 helmets known as "L.A. Cruisin' Bike Helmets" in child, youth and adult sizes. [1] The CPSC's press release for the recall was, "These helmets fail impact testing and labeling required under CPSC’s Safety Standard for Bicycle Helmets violating the Consumer Product Safety Act. Riders wearing these helmets are not properly protected from falls and could suffer severe head injuries…" [1] The other helmet was a girl's helmet with decals reading "Hearts and Flowers." It was voluntarily recalled by Cycle Express Inc., of New York, NY, who had sold about 9,000 of them. The CPSC released a similar press release statement, “These helmets fail impact testing and labeling required under CPSC’s Safety Standard for Bicycle Helmets violating the Consumer Product Safety Act. Riders wearing these helmets are not adequately protected from falls and could suffer severe head injuries or death…” [1]
| Jurisdiction | Ages | Effective |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | ||
| State law | Under 16 | 1995 |
| Montevallo | All ages | 1993 |
| Homewood | All ages | 1994 |
| Alaska | ||
| Anchorage | Under 16 | 2005 |
| Bethel | Under 18 | 2004 |
| Juneau | Under 18 | 2006 |
| Kenai | Under 16 | 2004 |
| Sitka | Under 18 | 2005 |
| Arizona | ||
| Flagstaff | Under 18 | 2010 |
| Pima County | Under 18 | 1995 |
| Sierra Vista | Under 18 | 1995 |
| Tucson | Under 18 | 1993 |
| Yuma | Under 18 | 1997 |
| California | ||
| State Law | Passengers under 5 | 1987 |
| State Law | Riders under 18 | 1994 |
| State Law | Under 18 * Scooters, skateboards, inline skates | 2003 |
| Bidwell Park, Chico for off-road in middle&upper park | All ages | 1991 |
| Connecticut | ||
| State Law | Under 16 | 1993/1997 |
| City of Seymour (Repealed 1998) | All ages | 1998 |
| Delaware | ||
| State Law | Under 18 * | 1996 |
| District of Columbia | ||
| District Law | Under 16 * | 2000/04 |
| Florida | ||
| State Law | Under 16 ** | 1997 |
| Georgia | ||
| State Law | Under 16 | 1993 |
| Hawaii | ||
| State Law | Under 16 | 2001 |
| Illinois | ||
| Barrington | Under 17 | 1997 |
| Chicago (messengers) | All ages | |
| Cicero | Under 16 | 1997 |
| Inverness | Under 16 | 1999 |
| Libertyville (Incentives only) | 1997 | |
| Skokie | Under 16 | 2002 |
| Kansas | ||
| Lawrence | Under 16 * | 2004 |
| Kentucky | ||
| Louisville (Parks) | Under 18 * | 2002 |
| Louisville Extreme Park | All ages | 2002 |
| Louisiana | ||
| State Law | Under 12 | 2002 |
| Maine | ||
| State Law | Under 16 | 1999 |
| Maryland | ||
| State Law | Under 16 * | 1995 |
| Allegany County | Under 16 | 1992 |
| Howard County | Under 16 | 1990 |
| Montgomery County | Under 18 | 1991 |
| Sykesville | All ages | 1995 |
| Massachusetts | ||
| State Law | Passengers under 5 | 1990 |
| State Law | Riders under 17 * | 1994/2004 |
| Michigan | ||
| Adrian | Under 15 | 1998 |
| E. Grand Rapids | Under 18 | 1995 |
| Farmington Hills | Under 16 * | 1999 |
| Kensington Metropark | All ages | 1998 |
| Mississippi | ||
| Hernando | Under 17 * | 2010 |
| Jackson | All ages? | 2013 |
| Ridgeland | ??? | 2010 |
| Starkville | All ages * | 2010 |
| Missouri | ||
| St Louis County | 1 to 16 * | Unincorp. areas 2002 Countywide 2008 |
| St Louis County municipalities of: | - - - | |
| Ballwin | Under 17 | 2006 |
| Bel-Ridge | All ages | 2002 |
| Bella Villa | Under 17 | 2005 |
| Bellefontaine Neighbors | Under 17 | 2005 |
| Berkeley | All ages | 2000 |
| Black Jack | All ages | 2008 |
| Calverton Park | All ages | 2001 |
| Chesterfield | Under 17 | 2008 |
| Clayton | Under 17 | 2005 |
| Creve Coeur | All ages | 2000 |
| Ellisville | Under 17 | 2005 |
| Florissant | Under 17 | 2003 |
| Glendale | All ages | 2008 |
| Grantwood Village | All ages | 2003 |
| Hanley Hills | Under 17 | 2007 |
| Hazelwood | Under 17 | 2007 |
| Hillsdale | ||
| Moline Acres | Under 17 | 2008 |
| Normandy | Under 17 | 2004 |
| Northwoods | Under 17 | 2003 |
| Norwood Court | Under 17 | 2004 |
| Olivette | Under 17* | 2005 |
| Overland | Under 17 | 2005 |
| Pagedale | All ages | 2002 |
| Riverview | Under 17 | 2008 |
| Rock Hill | Under 17 | 2003 |
| St. John | Under 17 | 2001 |
| Sycamore Hills | All ages | 2008 |
| Town & Country | All ages | 2002 |
| Velda City | All ages | 2006 |
| Velda Village Hills | All ages | 2005 |
| Vinita Terrace | Under 21 | 2001 |
| Webster Groves | Under 17 | 2004 |
| Wellston | ||
| Wilber Park | Under 17 | 2005 |
| Wildwood | Under 17 | 2005 |
| St Louis Co Parks | Under 17 | 2001 |
| - - - | - - - | - - - |
| Municipalities inother counties | ||
| Columbia | Under 16 * | 2003 |
| St Charles | Under 16 | 2006 |
| Montana | ||
| Billings | Under 16 | 2001 |
| Nevada | ||
| Duckwater Indian Reservation | Under 17 | 2001 |
| Reno/Sparks Indian Colony | Under 17 | 2002 |
| New Hampshire | ||
| State Law | Under 16 | 2006 |
| New Jersey | ||
| State Law | Under 17 * | 1992/05 |
| New Mexico | ||
| State Law | Under 18 * | 2007 |
| Los Alamos County | Under 18 | 1995 |
| New York | ||
| State Law | Passengers under 5 | 1989 |
| State Law | Riders under 14* | 1994/2004 |
| Eastchester | Under 19 * | 2004 |
| Erie County Parks | All ages | 1993 |
| Greenburgh | All ages | 1994 |
| Guilderland | Under 14 | 1992 |
| Onondaga County-Syracuse | Under 18 | 2001 |
| Rockland County | All ages | 1992 |
| Suffolk County | 14 to 17 | 2000 |
| North Carolina | ||
| State Law | Under 16 | 2001 |
| Black Mountain | All ages | 1996 |
| Boone | All ages | 1995 |
| Carolina Beach | Under 16 | 1994 |
| Carrboro | Under 16 | 1997 |
| Cary | Under 16 | 2001 |
| Chapel Hill | Under 16 | 1992 |
| Charlotte | Under 16 * | 2002 |
| Cornelius | Under 16 * | 2001 |
| Greenville | Under 16 | 1998 |
| Matthews | Under 16 | 2001 |
| Ohio | ||
| Akron | Under 16 | 2001 |
| Beachwood | Under 16 | 1990 |
| Bexley | Under 16 | 2010 |
| Blue Ash | Under 16 | 2003 |
| Brecksville | Under 18 * | 1998 |
| Brooklyn | Under 14 | 2001 |
| Centerville | Under 18 | 1999 |
| Cincinnati | Under 16 * | 2004 |
| Columbus | Ages 1–17 * | 2009 |
| Dayton | Under 13 | 2004 |
| East Cleveland | Under 18 * | 2004 |
| Enon | Under 16 * | 2004 |
| Euclid | Under 14 | 2001 |
| Glendale | Under 19 * | 2000 |
| Kettering | Under 16 * | 2004 |
| Lakewood | Under 18 | 1997 |
| Madeira | Under 17 * | 2002 |
| Marietta | Under 16 * | 2004 |
| Orange Village | Ages 6 to 15 | 1992 |
| Pepper Pike | Under 18 | 2000 |
| Shaker Heights | All ages over 5 inc. passengers | 1997 |
| South Euclid | Under 14 | 2000 |
| Strongsville | Under 12 | 1993 |
| Waynesville | Under 17 * | 2000 |
| Oklahoma | ||
| Norman | Under 18 | 2003 |
| Oklahoma City (city property) | All ages | 1999 |
| Oregon | ||
| State Law | Under 16 * | 1994 |
| Pennsylvania | ||
| State Law | Riders under 12 | 1995 |
| Rhode Island | ||
| State Law | Under 16 * | 1996/ 1998/ 2007 |
| Tennessee | ||
| State Law | Under 16 | 1994/2000 |
| Clarksville | Under 16 | 1993 |
| Texas | ||
| Arlington | Under 18 | 1997 |
| Austin | Under 18 | 1996/97 |
| Bedford | Under 16 | 1996 |
| Benbrook | Under 17 | 1996 |
| Coppell | Under 15 | 1997 |
| Dallas | Under 18 | 1996/2014 |
| Fort Worth | Under 18 | 1996 |
| Houston | Under 18 | 1995 |
| Southlake | Under 15 | 1999 |
| Virginia **** | ||
| Albemarle County | Under 15 | |
| Alexandria | Under 15 | 1994 |
| Amherst County | Under 15 | 1993 |
| Arlington County | Under 15 | 1993 |
| Blacksburg | Under 15 | 1994 |
| Clarke County | Under 15 | |
| Fairfax County | Under 15 | 1993 |
| Fairfax City | Under 15 | 2016 |
| Falls Church | Under 15 | 1993 |
| Floyd County | Under 15 | |
| Front Royal | Under 15 | 1996 |
| Hampton | Under 15 | 1999 |
| Harrisonburg | Under 15 | |
| James City County | Under 15 | 1999 |
| Luray | Under 15 | |
| Manassas | Under 15 | 1995 |
| Manassas Park | Under 15 | 1997 |
| Newport News | Under 15 | 1997 |
| Norfolk | Under 15 | 2001 |
| Orange County | Under 15 | |
| Petersburg | Under 15 | 2000 |
| Prince William Co. | Under 15 | 1995 |
| Radford | Under 15 | 2000 |
| Roanoke | Under 15 | 2000 |
| Salem | Under 15 | 2000 |
| Stafford County | Under 15 | |
| Vienna | Under 15 | |
| Virginia Beach | Under 15 | 1995 |
| Williamsburg | Under 15 | 2001 |
| Wise | Under 15 | |
| York County | Under 15 | 1994 |
| Washington State | ||
| Aberdeen | All ages | 2001 |
| Auburn | All ages | 2005 |
| Bainbridge Island | All ages | 2001 |
| Bellevue | All ages | 2002 |
| Bremerton | All ages | 2000 |
| Des Moines | All ages | 1993 |
| DuPont | All ages | |
| Duvall | All ages | 1993 |
| Eatonville | All ages | 1996 |
| Enumclaw | All ages | 1993 |
| Fircrest | All ages | 1995 |
| Gig Harbor | All ages | 1996 |
| Hunts Point | All ages | 1993 |
| Island County (Recommendation only.) | All ages | 1997 |
| Kent | All ages | 1999 |
| King County Repealed in 2022 [5] | All ages | 1993 |
| Lakewood | All ages | 1996 |
| Milton | All ages * | 1997 |
| Orting | Under 17 | 1997 |
| Pierce County | All ages | 1994 |
| Port Angeles | All ages | 1994 |
| Port Orchard | All ages | 2004 |
| Poulsbo | Under 18 | 1995 |
| Puyallup | All ages | 1994 |
| Renton | All ages | 1999 |
| Seatac | All ages over 1 yr | 1999 |
| Seattle | All ages | 2003 |
| Snohomish repealed | All ages | 2002 |
| Snohomish skate park only | All ages | 2002 |
| Snoqualmie | All ages | 1996 |
| Spokane | All ages * | 2004 |
| Steilacoom | All ages | 1995 |
| Tacoma Repealed in 2020 [6] | All ages * | 1994 |
| University Place | All ages | 1996 |
| Vancouver | All ages | 2008 |
| West Virginia | ||
| State Law | Under 15 | 1996 |
| Clarksburg | Under 18 | 1993 |
| Morgantown | All ages | 1993 |
| South Charleston | Under 18 | 1994 |
| St. Albans | Under 18 | 1995 |
| Wisconsin | ||
| Port Washington | Under 17 | 1997 |