US lawmakers introduce bills to repeal D.C. motorcycle helmet law
For many Filipino riders, they still treat wearing a proper motorcycle helmet like an inconvenience, especially on short trips or when riding around the neighborhood. But for those who really want to ride without one, there are places where that is actually legal.
The catch? They’d have to move to the United States of America.
Helmet laws are once again becoming a talking point in the US, although the latest push isn’t happening in a state. Two Republican lawmakers, Representative Derrick Van Orden of Wisconsin and Senator Tim Sheehy of Montana, have introduced “Ride in Freedom Act,” seeking to repeal Washington, D.C.’s mandatory motorcycle helmet requirement. If approved, the proposals would give riders in the US capital the choice of wearing a helmet or going without one.
That makes the situation particularly interesting because neither lawmaker represents Washington, D.C., and both come from states where motorcycle helmet requirements remain in place. Their argument is that the decision should ultimately be left to individual riders' preference rather than the government.
For Pinoy riders, the idea might sound good, as there are still plenty of riders here who skip the helmet altogether or wear one that offers little to no protection, despite the country’s motorcycle helmet law.
Under Republic Act 10054, or the Motorcycle Helmet Act of 2009, motorcycle riders and pillions are required to wear a standard protective motorcycle helmet while riding on any road or highway. The law also requires helmets to comply with standards set by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).
The State of Arkansas, also in the US, offers a glimpse of what can happen when motorcycle helmet requirements are relaxed. According to the state’s highway safety data, Arkansas recorded 84 motorcycle-related fatalities in 2022. Of those, 51 involved riders who were not wearing helmets, accounting for 61% of the motorcycle deaths that year. Motorcycle fatalities also made up around 13% of all traffic fatalities in the state.
There is also a major difference in how motorcycles are used in the two countries. In the US, motorcycles are often treated as recreational vehicles, while in the Philippines, they are an essential form of transportation for millions of people who depend on them for daily commutes, getting around and even making a living.
With that in mind, it’s hard not to imagine how much worse the numbers could be if the Philippines had no motorcycle helmet law at all.
So, yes, there are places where Pinoy riders who really don’t want to wear a helmet can legally ride without one. But getting there involves more than simply taking the helmet out of the top box. They’d have to move to Arkansas, be over 21, and decide if riding without one is really worth the risk.
Or they could keep an eye on what happens with those proposed bills in Washington, D.C. and start packing their bags.
