Under New Mexico law, all motorcycle riders who are under the age of 18 must wear a helmet. The helmet and its reflectors should meet the standards set by the Department of Transportation (DOT).

Since the 1960s, states have passed motorcycle helmet laws to combat the rising number of motorcycle-related fatalities. According to the

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)

, helmets saved the lives of 1,872 motorcyclists in 2017 alone.

Each state has a unique set of motorcycle helmet laws, so it’s a great idea to become familiar with the laws in your state. The driving expert and

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is here to break down the basics of New Mexico’s law, including the importance of wearing a helmet while riding a motorcycle and the penalties you might face for not.

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Do you have to wear a motorcycle helmet in New Mexico?

If you’re under the age of 18, you must wear a motorcycle helmet when driving (or riding as a passenger) on a motorcycle or ATV. If you’re 18 or older, it’s up to you—but we recommend clipping on a helmet at all times to keep yourself protected.

Moped riders have to follow the same helmet laws as everybody else. In New Mexico, mopeds are defined as bikes with:

An engine displacement of less than 50 cc

A maximum speed of 30 mph

Whether you’re on a heavy-weight Harley or a nimble moped, it’s best to buckle up before you hit the road!

Exceptions to New Mexico’s motorcycle helmet law

Riders who are 18 or older don’t have to wear helmets—otherwise, there are no exceptions to New Mexico’s motorcycle helmet law.

MORE:

Is a motorcycle cheaper to insure than a car?

Penalties for breaking New Mexico’s motorcycle helmet law

Riders who violate New Mexico’s motorcycle helmet law may be issued a traffic violation and might have to pay a fine.

Why it’s important to wear a motorcycle helmet

Though New Mexico law allows adult riders to hop on the bike without a helmet, we think it’s crucial to wear one each time you ride: after all, motorcyclists who wear a helmet are 40% more likely to survive a crash than riders who leave their helmet at home.

The momentum towards motorcycle helmet laws began with the fascinating T.E. Lawrence (better known as Lawrence of Arabia). Lawrence, a British diplomat and army officer,

died in a motorcycle accident

when he was just 46, after swerving to avoid two young boys on bicycles. The highly publicized incident led neurosurgeon Hugh Cairns to start research on motorcycle helmets, hoping to prevent future riders from meeting the same fate as Lawrence.

Today, the advanced technology that goes into helmets saves hundreds of lives in the United States each year. In New Mexico, motorcyclists without helmets were

nearly twice as likely

—7.7% vs. 4.3%—to die in crashes as helmeted riders. In recent years, fatalities from motorcycle crashes have continued to climb.

MORE:

How to get motorcycle insurance

How to find the cheapest car and motorcycle insurance

Without a doubt, wearing a helmet is the smartest way to stay safe on the roads. If you’re looking for the smartest way to save money on insurance, the buck stops with Jerry.

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