Colorado DOT Releases a Creative PSA Promoting Motorcycle Helmet Use

In Colorado only riders aged 18 and over are required to wear motorcycle helmets. Despite conclusive research suggesting that motorcycle helmets reduce fatalities and save on healthcare costs, most states only require some motorcyclists to wear a helmet.

Riders Rights groups like ABATE (A Brotherhood Aimed Towards Education), which has chapters across the US, are strong advocates of allowing riders to decide to wear a helmet or not.

ABATE supports the "let those who ride decide" side of the argument and refers to itself as a motorcycle rights and safety organization. Groups like Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety are on the "let those who pay have a say" side of the issue however, no group has been very successful at promoting helmet use laws.

The Colorado DOT's "CRASHED" video is the kind of opposition that this issue needs. It is raw in the most literal sense, includes crash footage, presents a very clear message and was released to kick off Motorcycle Awareness Month.

Canadian Motorcycle Helmet Law

Canadians don't have the option to decide on motorcycle helmet use at any age. Its laws are universal nationwide and have been since 1960. Canada's Health and Safety Council advocates for preventative safety measures and states that its impossible to gage how many collisions, death and injuries are prevented but universal helmet law is responsible for Canada's impressive motorcycle safety records.

When it comes to seat belts there aren't groups petitioning against them. They work, everyone knows it and we wear them. I don't have to comment on which vehicle (car or motorcycle) is likely to result in a more severe injury, there are too many factors to consider but it just seems stupid to ride without a helmet.

After Florida repealed the legal requirement for all riders to wear a helmet, motorcycle injuries were evaluated and compared to values before the repeal. Some results of the 2005 evaluation are shown below.

• Statistic - After the Repeal
• Helmet use - From close to 100% before, to ~50%
• Number of fatalities - 71% Increase
• Fatalities under age 21 -Tripled
• Non-helmeted fatalities - From 9% before, to 61%
• Head injury admissions for riders - 80% Increase
• Motorcycle registrations - 21% Increase
• Fatality rate per 10,000 registered vehicles - 34% Increase

Helmet use went down across all the ages, fatalities increased, and medical costs increased. 2005-2006 marked the peak of the US market, where credit was easy to attain and property value was high. After the Florida helmet law repeal motorcycle sales and registrations increased. It seems as though the freedom to decide trumps safety statistics, but freedom isn't free.

I wear my helmet and full gear all the time. I ride a sport bike and I go too fast to not wear one. Riders on cruisers may not aggressively eat up the asphalt but you can't predict other drivers, so I think a helmet is better than a good idea. But that's just my opinion. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion and it seems some are entitled to their own facts about helmet safety.