14%
Of all traffic fatalities in 2020 were motorcyclists
69%
reduction in risk of head injury by wearing a helmet while on a motorcycle
5,579
Motorcyclists killed in 2020
May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month
Gaylord would like to take the opportunity to educate the community about brain injury prevention for motorcyclists. Wearing a helmet while on a motorcycle, whether you are a rider or a passenger, can be the difference between life, death or acquiring a traumatic brain injury. We have collected a number of resources to encourage all motorcyclists to gear up and wear their helmets anytime they are riding. Motorcycle helmets are 37 percent (for riders) and 41 percent (for passengers) effective in preventing deaths, but only 65% of riders wear a DOT-compliant helmet.
Why wear a helmet?
Drew Pisano, 34, doesn’t remember anything about the accident that nearly killed him, but the clues left behind at the scene piece together the story of how his plans for a “quick ride” on a beautiful fall day changed in the blink of an eye.
“I’ve been riding bikes my whole life,” Drew said. “Dirt bikes, quads, motorcycles, I love them all.”
More than his passion, bikes are also Drew’s livelihood. His Colchester-based business MotoBarn sells, maintains, and services bikes of all kinds.
On a warm November afternoon last year, Drew took his motorcycle – a cruiser – for a short ride. As was his custom, Drew drove off without first donning a helmet.
“I never thought it could be that bad.” Andrew P. - Gaylord Patient
“I thought I was safe. I learned I was not.” Andrew P. - Gaylord Patient
“I was only going down the street …” Andrew P. - Gaylord Patient
Helmet tips for motorcyclists
- The DOT requires that all motorcycle helmets sold in the United States meet Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 218, which outlines basic helmet safety requirements.
- Many states have laws requiring FMVSS No. 218 DOT-compliant helmets.
- In States requiring all to use helmets, 84.0% of helmets used were DOT Compliant, while 10.3% were not. In States not requiring helmet use, 54.4% of helmets used were DOT compliant, while 5.4% were not.
- The 2020 National Occupant Protection Use Survey (NOPUS) found two significant year-to-year change: Helmet use among riders with passengers decreased significantly from 79.7% in 2019 to 65.0% in 2020; and helmet use among passengers of riders wearing DOT compliant helmets increased significantly from 52.9% in 2019 to 84.5% in 2020.
- How to spot an unsafe helmet: Check for weight, helmet liner thickness, sturdy chinstraps, as well as the DOT certification label to assess if the helmet meets the Federal safety standard. Familiarize yourself with brand names and helmet designs that comply with DOT requirements. For example, a full-face design is a good indicator of a safe helmet. For more information on FMVSS No. 218 and novelty helmets, click here.
IMPORTANT: Look for this DOT sticker on the back of a helmet when purchasing.
Resources
NHTSA Motorcycle Safety
https://www.nhtsa.gov/road-safety/motorcycles
CDC Motorcycle Safety
https://www.cdc.gov/transportationsafety/mc/index.html
Fatality Facts 2020 Motorcycles and ATVs
https://www.iihs.org/topics/fatality-statistics/detail/motorcycles-and-atvs
Overview of Motor Vehicle Crashes in 2020
https://crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/Api/Public/ViewPublication/813266
Why people don't wear helmets when riding motorcycles
https://ulkagear.com/en-us/blogs/blog/why-people-dont-wear-helmets-when-riding-motorcycles
Why Some Motorcycle Riders Don’t Wear Helmets? (Explained!)
https://bikerestart.com/why-some-motorcycle-riders-dont-wear-helmets/
Evaluation of the Use and Reasons for Not Using a Helmet by Motorcyclists Admitted to the Emergency Ward of Shahid Bahonar Hospital in Kerman
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4276706/#:~:text=The%20most%20frequent%20reasons%20for,wearing%20a%20helmet%20during%20motorcycle
