California may just be the best place in the country for riding a motorcycle. After all, for bike enthusiasts, there is often nothing better than taking a ride along the ocean with the sun on their face and the wind in their hair. However, a person can still reap the benefits of wearing a motorcycle helmet while enjoying that ride, and being on the right side of the law is just one of them.
Motorcycle Helmets and California Law
Motorcyclists in California are required to adhere to a universal helmet law. Under this law, anyone on a motorcycle is required to wear a helmet, regardless of whether they are the driver or a passenger. Passengers wearing a helmet can even be fined if the driver of the motorcycle is not wearing a helmet. California’s law is different than states that have partial helmet laws because in California the age of the driver or rider not wearing a helmet is not taken into consideration. Bottom line, anyone on a motorcycle in California must wear a helmet.
Preventing Traumatic Brain Injuries
Motorcycle helmets can prevent a lot of different injuries, including contusions, concussions, and lacerations to the face. The most dangerous injury they can prevent, however, is a traumatic brain injury. Multiple studies have proven that over 70 percent of motorcycle accidents with fatalities involved severe injuries to the heads of the riders killed. Even if an accident is not fatal, traumatic head and brain injuries can drastically change a person’s quality of life and remain with them for the rest of their life.
By understanding the benefits of wearing a motorcycle helmet, a person could potentially prevent these sorts of injuries.
Protection Against the Elements of Nature
While California does not have the cold climates that a motorcycle helmet can help protect against, there are still elements that a helmet can help defend against. Insects are one of those, as is the dust that can fly around the dry state of California, particularly when riding in the desert regions.
Ensuring Better Visibility
A motorcycle helmet can also include a visor, which can be less distracting to a rider than sunglasses. When this visor is worn, it can remove distractions for the rider and passengers and make their journey much safer. Enabling greater visibility while riding a motorcycle is one of the many benefits of wearing a motorcycle helmet.
The Cutting Edge of Convenience
Motorcycle helmets provide a great deal of convenience too. Helmets can come with Bluetooth speakers installed so riders can listen to music or the radio. Some also include a rear-view camera allowing the rider to see what is behind them, which increases safety.
While all motorcycle riders and passengers in California by law must wear a motorcycle helmet, there are plenty of other reasons to wear a helmet while on a bike. They can prevent injuries that can drastically change a person’s life while providing convenient features that can make riding even better. There are many benefits of wearing a motorcycle helmet, but most importantly, they prevent serious injuries which could have traumatic long-term effects.