The state of Georgia requires all motorcycle riders to wear a helmet. Riders must not only wear helmets but they should meet national standards. Georgia helmet laws help save lives.
Wearing a helmet is no guarantee you will avoid head injuries or death if you crash. However, studies suggest helmets increase a biker’s chances of survival.
Under Section 40-6-315 of Georgia Code, all riders must wear helmets that comply with Board of Public Safety standards.
The Georgia helmet laws are consistent with the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards and Regulations (FMVSS). Ensure your helmet contains a sticker or product packaging indicating it is compliant with the regulation.
Research by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) highlights how helmets can save lives.
It cites the motorcycle helmet laws as the most effective way for states to save lives and reduce the financial costs of motorcycle accidents. However, not all states have universal helmet laws. The CDC states:
- Helmets saved about 1,859 lives in 2016.
- If all riders wore helmets in that year, 802 more lives would have been saved.
- The United States could potentially save more than $1 billion in economic costs if all riders wore helmets.
- Helmets reduce the risk of fatalities among riders by 37 percent;
- Helmets cut the risk of head injuries by 69 percent.
These are important statistics given that riding a motorcycle is considerably more dangerous than traveling in a car with a protective steel frame.
Georgia Helmet Laws Do Not Stop Death Toll Increasing
In 2018, we noted how fatal motorcycle crashes are increasing in Georgia. Not all riders who lose their lives respect Georgia helmet laws. Increasing numbers of riders who lost their lives were not wearing helmets.
Many states that repealed their helmet laws recorded an increase in rider deaths. In the six years leading up to the repeal of Pennsylvania’s helmet laws, the state averaged 122 rider deaths a year. In the 13 years after the law was repealed, rider deaths rose to 199 a year, USA Today reported.
People who violate the law face misdemeanors that can result in up to $1,000 in fines and even a year in jail, although the courts often impose more lenient penalties.
If you were injured in a motorcycle wreck or lost a loved one, please call our Georgia motorcycle accident lawyers today at (404) 913-1529.