Will the Current Utah Motorcycle Helmet Law Change with motorcycle accident fatalities on the steadily rising in Utah, many wonder whether the current motorcycle helmet law should be amended. The Utah State Legislature will be convening again in the next several weeks. Highway and transportation legislation are high on the agenda for several lobbyist groups and public representatives. Yesterday, on Monday January 11, 2010, Advocates for Highway & Auto Safety released their findings on the safety ratings of each of the 50 states. Utah, along with more than half of the nation, received an “average” grading. Deseret news reports that Utah was “advancing but has numerous gaps in highway safety laws.” According to the report, the main holes in Utah’s safety laws are:
• Helmets are not required for all motorcyclists and their passengers
• Utah lacks law that allows police officers to pull over vehicles under the suspicion for not having properly fastened seatbelts
• In Utah, is not required conduct a blood alcohol content test after a car crash involving a fatality
Helmets are optional in Utah
Currently, Utah law mandates that anyone 17 years of age and younger must wear a safety helmet when riding on a motorcycle. Unfortunately, the demographic of persons most often injured or killed in a Utah motorcycle accident are males in their 30s and 40s. The Utah Department of Public Safety Office released these startling figures:
• There were 1,215 reported motorcycle crashes in Utah, resulting in 1,077 injured motorcyclists
• In 2007, Utah had 33 motorcycle fatalities, the highest since 1985
• Only 50% of motorcyclists wear helmets in the state of Utah
• Since 2006, there has been a 20% increase in the motorcyclist death rate per registered motorcycle
• Motorcycle crashes are 7 times more likely to result in death than any other motor vehicle crashes
Five Leading Factors in Utah Motorcycle Crashes
According to the latest figures from the annual Utah Highway Patrol Research on Motorcycle crashes in Utah, the five leading contributing factors in crashes are:
• Speeding
• Being followed too closely by other vehicles or motorcycles
• Swerving or other evasive action
• Failing to keep in proper lane
• Being ran off road
For more information on Utah helmet laws and motorcycle statistics, you can read the article “Utah Motorcycle Helmet Laws”in the Christensen Law Firm’s online library. If you have been injured in a Utah motorcycle accident, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages. The expert motorcycle lawyers at the Christensen Law Firm offer expert legal representation and can help you retrieve the settlement you deserve. For a free consultation, call 8901.506.0800.