According to Idaho law, anyone younger than 18 must wear a helmet while on a motorcycle. Though adults are not required to do so, it is in their best interest to also wear helmets when operating or riding on a motorcycle.

Motorcycles are popular vehicles, but the sense of freedom they give to drivers and passengers comes at the cost of safety. In 2019 alone, the

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)

reported that 14% of traffic fatalities were due to motorcycle accidents. Because of this, states have been enacting helmet laws to try and curb the number of fatal motorcycle accidents.

To help you better understand the motorcycle helmet laws in Idaho, the

car insurance

broker and super app

Jerry

has compiled all you need to know. In this article, you’ll get the requirements of the law, the exceptions to it, and why it’s so important to wear your helmet.

Later, we'll drop some tips for how to save money on your

Idaho car insurance costs

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Do you have to wear a motorcycle helmet in Idaho?

You must wear a helmet when riding or operating a motorcycle in Idaho if you are under the age of 18.

This law also extends to utility and all-terrain vehicles, unless they are completely enclosed.

Exceptions to Idaho’s motorcycle helmet law

You do not have to wear a helmet while on a motorcycle if you are 18 years of age or older. However, for your safety, it’s strongly recommended.

Additionally, no one is required to wear a helmet if they’re driving or riding their motorcycle on private property or as an implement of husbandry.

Penalties for breaking Idaho’s motorcycle helmet law

While there are no penalties on the books for driving or riding on a motorcycle without a helmet, you could potentially receive a fine for doing so.

Why it’s important to wear a motorcycle helmet

Potential fines are not the only reason to wear a motorcycle helmet in Idaho. Wearing a helmet is your first and most important line of defense in the event of an accident.

Hundreds of lives are saved each year in the United States by motorcycle helmet laws, according to estimates from the NHTSA. Up to 57% of motorcyclists that are killed on the road are unhelmeted in states without helmet laws. However, that number plummets to around 9% for states that do have laws on the books.

To think about it another way, consider the protections you have on the road while in a standard car: seatbelts, airbags, and a metal frame around you designed to absorb the shock of an impact.

While on a motorcycle, the only protections you have are the clothes on your back and the helmet on your head. That means ditching your helmet is the same as ditching half the measures meant to keep you alive.

How to find affordable car and motorcycle insurance

Motorcycle helmets will keep you safe while on the open road, but they won’t do much to save you money. If you want to do that, you need to download the

Jerry

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