Table 2-5: Helmet Use Laws: 2009

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¹Alaska's motorcycle helmet use law covers passengers of all ages, operators younger than 18, and operators with instructional permits; ²In Florida, the law requires that all riders younger than 21 years wear helmets, without exception. Those 21 years and older may ride without helmets only if they can show proof that they are covered by a medical insurance policy; ³In Kentucky, the law requires that all riders younger than 21 years wear helmets, without exception. Those 21 years and older may ride without helmets only if they can show proof that they are covered by a medical insurance policy. Motorcycle helmet laws in Kentucky also cover operators with instructional/learner's permits; ⁴Motorcycle helmet laws in Maine cover operators with instructional/learner's permits. Maine's motorcycle helmet use law also covers passengers 14 years and younger and passengers if their operators are required to wear a helmet; ⁵Motorcycle helmet laws in Minnesota cover operators with instructional/learner's permits; ⁶North Dakota's motorcycle helmet use law covers all passengers traveling with operators who are covered by the law;
⁷Ohio's motorcycle helmet use law covers all operators during the first year of licensure and all passengers of operators who are covered by the law; ⁸Pennsylvania's motorcycle helmet use law covers all operators during the first two years of licensure unless the operator has completed the safety course approved by PennDOT or the Motorcycle Safety Foundation; ⁹Rhode Island's motorcycle helmet use law covers all passengers (regardless of age) and all operators during the first year of licensure (regardless of age); ¹⁰Texas exempts riders 21 years or older if they can either show proof of successfully completing a motorcycle operator training and safety course or can show proof of having a medical insurance policy; ¹¹Motorcycle helmet laws in Wisconsin cover operators with instructional/learner's permits.

SOURCE: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, Highway Loss Data Institute, Helmet Use Laws, available at http://www.iihs.org/laws/state_laws/helmet_current.html as of Jan. 16, 2009.