law states that, regardless of the roadway, all riders must wear protective headgear and eyewear when on a motorcycle, motor-driven bicycle, or motorized bicycle (mopeds). Failure to comply will result in fines of up to $50.

Motorcycle fatalities have daunting statistics compared to passenger car vehicles—with motorcyclists 29 times more likely to be killed during an accident (according to the

NHTSA

). Many states use helmet laws to combat the risk of motorcycle accidents.

No need to toil over motorcycle laws where you live,

Jerry

has all you need to know about helmet requirements in the Bayou State. We’ll rundown the basics—including exemptions to the law and unhelmeted fatality statistics in Louisiana.

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Do you have to wear a motorcycle helmet in Louisiana?

In Louisiana, the rules are simple—anyone, including passengers, must wear protective headgear when riding a motorcycle on public roadways.

Valid protective headgear in Louisiana must include the following:

Lining/padding

Visor

Chin Strap

Riders are required to use some form of eye protection—according to

RS 32.190.1

, eye protection can be anything from goggles or protective glasses to translucent shielding. The law applies to motorcycles and mopeds (motorized bicycles).

Exceptions to Louisiana motorcycle helmet law

There are no exceptions to Louisiana motorcycle helmet law. Helmet wearing is a requirement for all riders—regardless of age,

liability coverage

, or vehicle class.

Penalties for breaking Louisiana motorcycle helmet law

Violation of the Louisiana motorcycle helmet law will result in a $50 fine and any additional court costs. Helmet law violations are not visible on your

driving record

as a minor infraction.

Why it’s important to wear a motorcycle helmet

While fines and court costs may look steep, they pale in comparison to the more significant risks of helmetless riding. Let’s examine the history of motorcycle helmets and the latest statistics on accident fatality rates in Louisiana.

The most famous turn in helmet-wearing culture was the death of T.E. Lawrence. Popularly known as “Lawrence of Arabia,” T.E. was a British officer and diplomat severely injured by

a motorcycle accident

in 1935. After battling head trauma in the hospital, Lawrence passed away six days after the accident—igniting neurologist Hugh Cairn’s research on helmets.

The legacy of Hugh Cairns' work is present in the motorcycle cycle helmet laws of today—which the NHTSA estimates save hundreds of lives a year in the United States. Still, many riders go without helmets (even in states with helmets), despite motorcycle accidents making up 14% of traffic-related fatalities.

Sadly, Louisiana is a particularly perilous state for motorcycle riders. Based on total occupants, motorcycle accidents in Louisiana had

a 69% chance

of severe injury or death—another reason to use necessary protection when on the road.

How to find affordable car and motorcycle insurance

Helmets are a motorcyclist’s best friend. If you’re shopping for car or motor insurance, consider

Jerry

as more of a lifelong companion.

Jerry is a personal insurance broker that lives in your pocket. But don’t worry about buying tiny office furniture, Jerry is an app. Once you download Jerry, just answer a handful of questions that will take you roughly 45 seconds to complete and you’ll immediately get

car insurance

quotes for coverage similar to your current plan.

Best of all, Jerry customers save an average of $887 a year. And you’ll always know you're getting the newest deal with the help of Jerry’s regular price monitoring.

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