Is it illegal to ride a motorcycle without a helmet in Connecticut?
Connecticut only requires helmet use for motorcycle operators and passengers who are under 18 years of age and people operating a motorcycle with a learner’s permit (CGS §§ 14-289g and 14-40a). Anyone who fails to wear a helmet is guilty of an infraction and may be fined up to $90.
Are helmet laws mandatory?
Summary: There is no federal law in the U.S. requiring bicycle helmets. Most are limited to children under 18, but there are 49 all-ages laws, broken out on our all-ages page. At present, 22 States including the District of Columbia have state-wide laws, and more than 201 localities have local ordinances.
Which states do not require motorcycle helmets?
States without Motorcycle Helmet Laws There are just a few states that don’t have any requirements when it comes to helmet laws, regardless of the age of the rider. These rare states include Illinois, Iowa, and New Hampshire.
Are helmet laws state or federal?
In California, anyone who drives or rides on a motorcycle must wear a safety helmet that meets U.S. Department of Transportation and state safety standards. It must be fastened with the helmet straps and fit securely without excessive lateral or vertical movement.
Is lane splitting legal in CT?
No, lane splitting is illegal in Connecticut. Although lane splitting is officially legal in California, and some states look the other way and do not specifically address lane splitting in their legislation, Connecticut has a section (Sec. 14-289b) that makes lane splitting illegal.
Are there alternatives to helmet laws?
Are you saying that there is no reason for a rider to take a safety course? There are other alternatives to a helmet law, ineffective or not. More information from SMARTER: Advocates for helmet repeal focus on two efforts to reduce crash risk (1) rider training and (2) motorist awareness programs.
How many states have no helmet laws?
Three states
Today, only 18 states and the District of Columbia have universal helmet laws, and 29 states have laws covering some riders, usually people younger than 18. Three states (Illinois, Iowa and New Hampshire) do not have any helmet requirements.
Is there opposition to a universal helmet law?
Opposition to Motorcycle Helmet Laws. Any effort to enact a universal helmet law can expect immediate, well-coordinated, and highly political opposition ([NHTSA, 2003c]). Helmet law opponents claim that helmet laws impinge on individual rights.
Why are helmets against the law on motorcycles?
Helmet law opponents claim that helmet laws impinge on individual rights. They also claim that helmets interfere with motorcycle riders’ vision or hearing, though research shows that these effects are minimal (NHTSA, 1996). (UNC Highway Safety Research Center, 2011, p. 5-8) States continue to debate helmet use laws.
Are there any states that do not have helmet laws?
Although “DOT-compliant helmet use increased in States with and without universal helmet laws” (UNC Highway Safety Research Center, 2011, p. 5-7), helmet use remains much higher in states with universal laws.
When was the first universal motorcycle helmet law enacted?
History “The first universal motorcycle helmet law was enacted in 1966” (UNC Highway Safety Research Center, 2011, p. 5-7). As a way to increase helmet use, the federal government offered an incentive—certain federal safety programs and highway construction funds—for states that enacted helmet use laws (IIHS, 2011a).
Are there helmet laws in Massachusetts and New Hampshire?
When I lived on the border between Massachusetts (a universal helmet law state) and New Hampshire (with no helmet laws at all), I’d always see motorcycles stopped at the state line. Northbound riders would be taking their helmets off, and southbound riders would put them on.
Opposition to Motorcycle Helmet Laws. Any effort to enact a universal helmet law can expect immediate, well-coordinated, and highly political opposition ([NHTSA, 2003c]). Helmet law opponents claim that helmet laws impinge on individual rights.
Helmet law opponents claim that helmet laws impinge on individual rights. They also claim that helmets interfere with motorcycle riders’ vision or hearing, though research shows that these effects are minimal (NHTSA, 1996). (UNC Highway Safety Research Center, 2011, p. 5-8) States continue to debate helmet use laws.
Although “DOT-compliant helmet use increased in States with and without universal helmet laws” (UNC Highway Safety Research Center, 2011, p. 5-7), helmet use remains much higher in states with universal laws.