Here’s the kind of headline you might see on certain sites today: A study claims that helmet law repeals led to 22,058 motorcyclist deaths from 1976 to 2022. But what does this really mean?
To be honest, I almost skipped covering this story. The link between helmet use and reduced fatalities in motorcycle crashes is well established, and this study’s main goal was to quantify deaths linked to repealed helmet laws—a figure that makes for a bold headline, though it might not mean much to us as riders. Plus, we’ve already extensively discussed helmet laws and debunked common myths, like the idea that helmets cause neck injuries.
The study was conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, an organization funded by insurance companies. They have a vested interest—both financially and ethically—in reducing highway injuries and fatalities, even if it means advocating for mandatory laws.
So, is this number actually helpful, or is it just a statistic for lobbyists to leverage? These 22,058 deaths translate to roughly 500 per year, and, honestly, if asked to guess, I would’ve anticipated an even higher count.
Ultimately, I decided to write about it anyway. Despite how often helmet laws have been debated in past articles and reader comments, revisiting the topic from time to time seems worthwhile. Motorcycle fatalities in the U.S. reached a record high of nearly 6,000 in 2022, a reminder of the risks we assume each time we ride. We all have personal thresholds for risk—some we accept, others we avoid. Instead of just following routine, maybe it’s worth pausing to reconsider our choices on safety gear.
How did we get our patchwork system of helmet laws?
Before 1976, states were encouraged to require helmet use for motorcyclists by linking some federal highway funding to helmet laws, making helmet mandates nearly universal across the U.S. However, when this federal requirement was removed in 1976, many states began to roll back their helmet laws. Some states eliminated the requirement entirely, while others limited it to riders under 18 or 21. Currently, only 17 states and the District of Columbia mandate helmet use for all riders.
The recent study by IIHS Director of Statistical Services Eric Teoh—who has conducted similar research covered previously—analyzes data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) from 1976 through 2022, the most recent year with comprehensive data. Like his earlier work, Teoh’s study carefully adjusts for variables that could skew the results. While I won’t dive into the methodology behind the final numbers, those interested can access the full study for a detailed breakdown.
The figure provided by the study, the estimated fatalities tied to helmet law changes, will likely fuel both sides of the helmet law debate. This issue goes beyond statistics, touching on complex questions about where individual freedoms intersect with the welfare of society, the validity of “slippery slope” arguments, and whether the right to assume personal risk should be an individual choice or influenced by public policy. Quantifying the lives lost over the last five decades due to these policy shifts adds another layer to this ongoing discussion.