What Are the Helmet Laws in California?

Although motorcycles provide cost-effective transportation and recreation to many in California, they are highly dangerous to ride. Unfortunately, they are far less crash-worthy than other completely enclosed vehicles. Motorcycles are also less visible to other motorists and not as stable as four-wheel vehicles. In addition, motorcyclists require a unique set of mental and physical skills compared to those necessary for driving four-wheel vehicles. To make safety an even more significant concern, anyone on a motorcycle is more vulnerable to road conditions and weather hazards than drivers or passengers in closed vehicles. Despite the known benefits, only about 65 percent of motorcyclists in the U.S. wore a helmet in 2021 while riding.

California Motorcycle Laws

It’s a fact that all motorcyclists, no matter their age, experience, or location, have a much better chance of preventing severe injuries when they wear protective gear and apparel. As such, many states, including California, have enacted helmet laws.

Under California law, while riding, all motorcyclists must use:

In addition, it’s strongly encouraged for motorcyclists to wear the following while on their bikes:

  • Face and eye protection
  • Protective clothing, for instance, long heavy pants, leather or long sleeve jacket with reflective material or in a light color, full-fingered leather gloves, and over-the-ankle closed-toe boots

California Vehicle Code §27803 requires that all riders and passengers in the state wear a U.S. DOT-compliant motorcycle safety helmet when riding a motorcycle, motor-driven cycle, or motorized bicycle. However, they can’t just wear any helmet. Instead, it must be manufacturer certified, stating that it complies with U.S. DOT Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 218.

Motorcycle accident and helmet facts that every biker and passenger should consider:

  • Most injury crashes occur on short trips under five miles.
  • Most motorcyclists travel less than 30 mph when a crash occurs. A DOT-compliant motorcycle helmet can decrease both the number and the severity of head injuries by 50 percent at these speeds.
  • A non-U.S. DOT-compliant helmet often has extremely thin liners and protective padding. These unsafe helmets don’t have the necessary strength, size, and ability to protect a motorcycle rider or passenger in a crash.
  • A non-DOT-compliant helmet can sometimes look like a compliant helmet and be sold alongside its DOT-compliant counterparts. When purchasing a helmet, ensure that it has DOT certification.
  • DOT-compliant helmets can be decorated aftermarket with stick-on items such as decals, viking horns, mohawks, and the like, as these won’t impact the safety properties of the helmet. In a crash at any speed, bikers who wear a DOT-compliant motorcycle safety helmet are three times more likely to live through a head injury than those who aren’t wearing one.

Injured in a Motorcycle Accident? Contact an Experienced Attorney Today

Whether you were wearing a helmet or not, you might receive compensation for your injuries in a motorcycle accident. By discussing your accident and injuries with an experienced Tustin motorcycle accident attorney, you can learn more about your legal rights to compensation and the best next steps you should take. Contact us today to discuss your case.