Guide to Arkansas Motorcycle Helmet Laws

Helmet laws help protect motorcyclists from suffering serious injury and harm. However, not all states have universal helmet laws. Arkansas is one of them. In 1997, the state’s mandatory motorcycle helmet law was repealed . Instead, legislators enacted a law that only required motorcyclists and passengers under the age of 21 to wear a helmet. This repeal had significant consequences for motorcyclists.

A 6-year retrospective study found that after the repeal, motorcyclists had significantly more severe head and neck injuries. In addition, they suffered higher medical expenses and more fatalities. The researchers concluded that the repeal of the mandatory helmet law was associated with an increase in the non-helmeted crash scene fatality rate and disproportionately higher hospital admission rates.

After Arkansas repealed their universal helmet law, more riders and passengers were seen on their bikes without a helmet. In states like Arkansas who do not have a universal helmet law, only 60 percent of riders actually wear helmets. In mandatory helmet states, 97 percent of bikers wear helmets while riding.

In order to protect yourself from serious head injuries, it is important to choose a DOT-approved motorcycle helmet. You can choose from full face helmets, open face helmets and half helmets. Full face helmets provide the most coverage and protection. Half helmets provide the least amount of coverage, but are better than not wearing a helmet at all. However, studies have shown that bikers wearing half helmets were twice as likely to suffer traumatic brain injuries than those wearing full face or open face helmets.

Another aspect to consider when choosing a helmet is visibility. While black may seem cool, it is less likely to help you stand out in traffic and on the open road. Consider a colorful helmet that has reflective properties as well. If your motorcycle helmet does not have reflective strips, you can purchase reflective tape to add to it.

Why is color and reflection so important? It can help other drivers see you on the road! A study by BMJ found that riders wearing bright or reflective motorcycle gear had a 37 percent lower risk of crash. When riders simply wore a white helmet, they had a 24 percent lower risk of getting into a motorcycle accident than riders who wore black helmets.