PHOENIX — Motorcycle helmet laws remain a contentious topic in Arizona as motorcyclist deaths and bike registrations rise across the state. In 2023, 258 riders were killed on Arizona roads, an 11% increase from 2022, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT).
East Valley police departments teamed up this week to encourage helmet use, highlighting over 200 motorcycle crashes already reported this year.
“Roughly half of our motorcyclist fatalities in Chandler involve riders not wearing helmets,” said Sergeant Dan McQuillin of the Chandler Police Department.
Arizona’s Current Helmet Laws
Arizona law allows motorcyclists over 18 to ride without helmets. While safety advocates emphasize the life-saving benefits of helmets, not everyone agrees they should be mandatory.
Riders Speak Out
Riders like Miles Endriss, who survived a highway crash without a helmet, remain unconvinced.
“I got a micro-fracture in my orbital socket. I got a blood spot in my brain. But some risks, we take,” Endriss said.
Endriss’s friend, Ariel Linne, wears a helmet herself but opposes making helmets mandatory.
“Just because people who support helmets wear helmets doesn’t mean we want to force it on every rider,” Linne said.
Others, like biker Brian Lobert, argue that helmets save lives and should be required. “It’s going to save lives in the long run, plain and simple,” he said. Lobert credits his helmet for saving his life in a crash.
The Push for and Against Helmet Laws
A 2019 bill proposed requiring helmets or a fee to opt out, but it never came to a vote.
Michael Infanzon, a lobbyist for ABATE of Arizona, opposes mandatory helmet laws, citing personal freedoms and the behavior of other drivers as the primary cause of crashes.
“The biggest reason for motorcyclist crashes and fatalities is red light runners and left-hand turns illegally in front of motorcycle drivers,” Infanzon said.
Proven Safety Benefits
Studies by the National Institute of Health have shown helmets reduce the risk of head injuries by 72%. Despite this, Arizona remains one of many states that allow adult motorcyclists to ride without helmets, leaving the decision up to personal choice.
As debates continue, police and safety advocates stress the importance of helmet use, while many riders hold firm to their belief in freedom of choice. With fatalities on the rise, the conversation over safety versus personal liberty remains as heated as ever.