Population Health Research Brief Series

There are over 4,500 motorcycle crash fatalities per year in the U.S., on average. Roughly 37% of those deaths involve head injuries.

Motorcycle helmet laws reduce fatalities, serious cognitive disabilities, and social costs. Yet many states have no helmet laws. This data slice shows that from 1999 to 2019, states with helmet laws had a 33% lower head-related fatality rate compared to states without helmet laws. Motorcycle helmet laws clearly save lives.