Connecticut Motorcycle Helmet Laws
Under Connecticut law, motorcycle operators and passengers under 18 years of age must wear helmets.
Written by Maxine Boyko
Reviewed by Kathleen Flear
All motorcycle operators and passengers under the age of 18 are required to wear helmets in
Connecticut
. In 2019, motorcycle accidents were responsible for 14 percent of all traffic fatalities, according to the
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
. In 1966, the NHTSA began urging states to adopt universal motorcycle helmet laws to help lower these statistics.Motorcycle helmet laws in the US have gone through many changes since the '60s, including various adoptions, amendments, and repeals.
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will explain everything you need to know. We’ll dive into motorcycle helmet law basics, violation punishments, exceptions, and unhelmeted fatality statistics in Connecticut.RECOMMENDED
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Do you have to wear a motorcycle helmet in Connecticut?
If you’re under the age of 18, you are required by law to wear a helmet while either operating or riding a motorcycle in Connecticut. Furthermore, the helmet must meet the minimum DOT
safety standards
, properly fit the rider, and be securely fastened when a driver or passenger is on a motorcycle. All motorcycle riders, regardless of age, are also required to wear goggles, glasses, or a face shield that meet the minimum safety specifications.
Exceptions to Connecticut’s motorcycle helmet law
If you are 18 years of age or older, you do not have to wear a motorcycle helmet in Connecticut.
Connecticut repealed its motorcycle helmet law in 1976. By 1989, the General Assembly enacted a “partial” helmet law, requiring only minors to wear protective headgear when riding a motorcycle.
Penalties for breaking Connecticut’s motorcycle helmet law
If you break Connecticut’s motorcycle helmet law, you’ve committed a traffic infraction with a minimum penalty fine of $90.
Connecticut also follows a modified
comparative negligence
rule, which could financially penalize you under certain circumstances. This rule determines each involved party’s degree of fault based on their individual contributions to the accident. Unless you’re found less accountable than the other involved parties, you won’t be eligible for financial compensation.Wearing a helmet is ultimately the best (and easiest) way to protect yourself from legal and financial setbacks.
Why it’s important to wear a motorcycle helmet
Wearing a helmet is not only important to protect yourself legally and financially, but it also offers protection from bodily injury.
Research compiled by the NHTSA shows that riders who wear helmets are three times less likely to sustain brain trauma than unhelmeted riders. The research also established that in states without motorcycle helmet laws, 57% of motorcyclists killed on the road were without helmets versus 9% in states with helmet laws.
In 2007, the number of motorcyclist fatalities in Connecticut was 37 times higher than the number of people killed in cars.
Medical research
in Connecticut asserts that helmets reduce motorcycle crash fatalities. It’s hard to argue with the statistics—helmet use significantly decreases the chances of sustaining brain injury or death in a motorcycle accident.How to find affordable car and motorcycle insurance
If you’re protecting your head, why not also protect your bread?
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