• 18
  • November
    2010

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) recently announced its support for stricter helmet laws across the country, drawing ire from a number of motorcycle enthusiast organizations and clubs. The NTSB's call for stricter helmet regulation comes after years of increases in motorcycle accident fatalities and traumatic brain injuries.

Between 1998 and 2008, around 5,300 individuals lost their lives in motorcycle crashes. While the number of fatalities dipped in 2009, traffic safety analysts and legislators have continued to seek answers to the high rate of fatalities among riders.

In many ways, helmet laws are an obvious starting point. While motorcycle enthusiasts across the country have protested the move towards regulation, few question the ability of helmets to save lives. For cyclists, it's a question of free choice - if riders want to wear helmets or take the risk, they should be free to do so.

However, for the NTSB and many legislators, helmet laws are the low-hanging fruit in the fight against motorcycle accident fatalities and brain injury. It would be much easier to require helmets than fix roads or change other, more nuanced, traffic laws.

The NTSB has no legislative power, as motorcyclists have been quick to point out. Still, the federal board has quite a bit of sway when it comes to influencing lawmakers. Whether or not they will be able to overcome opposition and facilitate stricter helmet laws remains to be seen.

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