RICHMOND, Va. — The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles said in 2019 there have been seven motorcyclist deaths where the rider wasn’t wearing a helmet, which is a decade high for the Commonwealth.
In 2018, there weren't any motorcycle crashes where the rider wasn't wearing a helmet. There was one in 2017, four in 2016, and three in 2015.
Additionally, motorcycle-related deaths are higher so far this year with 87 as of November 15, compared to 83 during this same period in 2018.
“A helmet is the most important safety equipment a motorcyclist wears,” said DMV Commissioner Richard D. Holcomb, the Governor’s Highway Safety Representative. “Before you even think about getting on your bike, make sure you have on the proper gear, including an approved helmet.”
In Virginia, the law requires motorcyclists and their passengers to always wear a helmet, and the helmet must meet or exceed the standards and specifications of the Snell Memorial Foundation, the American National Standards Institute Inc., or the U.S. Department of Transportation.
The DMV said helmets are about 29 percent effective in preventing motorcyclist deaths and about 67 percent effective in preventing brain injuries. A rider without a helmet is 40 percent more likely to suffer a fatal head injury than is a helmeted rider.
“Our goal is to always see traffic fatalities decreasing from year to year, so when the trend is upward, we need to redouble our efforts,” Holcomb said. “That means every driver out there needs to look twice for motorcycles, avoid distractions and never drive impaired. And every motorcycle rider needs to wear the proper gear, obey speed limits and ride within their abilities.”
The DMV offers the Virginia Rider Training Program for both beginning and experienced riders. Click here to learn more.