Motorcycle Helmet use and Trends before and after Florida's Helmet Law Change in 2000

Abstract

The Center for Urban Transportation Research at the University of South Florida conducted this study for the Florida Department of Transportation to analyze motorcycling trends in Florida before and after the July 2000 change to the motorcycle helmet law. The change permits motorcyclists 21 years of age and older to ride without a helmet if they carry at least $10,000 in insurance to cover medical costs incurred as a result of a crash. This paper discusses study findings on motorcycle trends before and after the Florida change related to observed and reported motorcycle helmet use, number and severity of motorcycle crashes, and number and severity of injuries sustained in motorcycle crashes. Additionally, national and Florida data related to vehicle miles of travel (VMT), registrations, crashes, injuries, fatalities, and helmet use are presented, and recommendations for future motorcycle research are made. Findings show that Florida's observed helmet use rate declined from 99.5% in 1998 to 52.7% in 2002. Sport bike riders were among those most likely to be helmeted, whereas lack of helmet use typically was associated with riders on cruiser-style motorcycles. Declines in observed helmet use rates in Florida are comparable to declines in other states with recently amended universal helmet laws. Helmet use among crash-involved motorcycle operators continues to decline even among younger riders required by law to wear helmets. Crash rates and injury rates per registered motorcycle and per motorcycle VMT declined following the helmet law change, with the exception of fatal crash rates.