Understanding Rhode Island Motorcycle Helmet Laws: What Riders Need to Know

When other drivers fail to respect the law and engage in risky behavior, motorcyclists are one of the most vulnerable vehicle operators on the road due to their lack of physical barriers. However, while it’s impossible to control how other drivers behave, you can reduce your own risk of death and injury by complying with the law and practicing safe motorcycle guidelines. Motorcycle helmet laws vary depending on which state you are in. If you’re a motorcyclist in Rhode Island, it’s important to inform yourself about the state’s motorcycle helmet laws and be aware of what you need to do to protect yourself when riding on the road. 

How Rhode Island’s Motorcycle Helmet Laws Work

You may be surprised to know that Rhode Island actually doesn’t have a “universal” motorcycle helmet law. Technically, in the state of Rhode Island, not all motorcyclists are legally required to wear helmets. Section 31.10-1.4 of the Rhode Island General Laws requires only motorcycle riders under the age of 21 to wear helmets. After obtaining a motorcycle license, all new riders must also wear helmets in the first year of having their license, no matter what age they are. There is an $85 fine if you are caught violating these laws.

Why You Should Always Wear A Helmet Anyways

Even though Rhode Island may be lax about motorcycle helmet laws, the point of wearing a helmet isn’t to avoid an $85 fine. The reason why you should wear a helmet is to protect yourself if you end up getting in a crash. Take a look at these sobering statistics:

• The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that motorcyclists are around 28 times more likely than those riding in a car to die on a crash when matched mile for mile traveled. 
• Motorcyclist fatalities have been on the rise recently, accounting for 14 percent of ALL traffic fatalities in a recent year – that’s the highest number of motorcyclist fatalities since 1975! 

Keep these numbers in mind when you’re thinking about skipping your helmet next time. Your safety is always the number one priority, and you need to do whatever is in your power to protect yourself from injury (or even, in many cases, fatality) in the case of an accident.No matter how much you hate messing your hair, or how safe you think the road is, it’s essential to keep something between your skull and the hard hardway if you end up colliding. The most common cause of motorcycle accident fatalities is – guess what – head injuries. In fact, 57 percent of all motorcyclists driving in states without universal helmet laws who died in accidents were not wearing a helmet when they crashed. In states that did have universal helmet laws, this number drops significantly to 11 percent.

Contact Us Today

While Rhode Island may not require all motorcyclists to wear a helmet, you should always do so to protect yourself. If you or somebody you love was injured in a motorcycle accident, an experienced motorcycle attorney can help you pick up the pieces and get the compensation you may be legally entitled to for your injuries. Call Tapalian Law to schedule a consultation today.