KBIA, JEFFERSON CITY – The Missouri Department of Transportation said Thursday that there is a correlation between the rise in motorcycle fatalities and the repeal of the universal helmet law in 2020.
Since 2020, motorcycle fatalities have increased 47% and 2023 was the deadliest year on record for motorcycle fatalities with 174 deaths, according to MoDOT.
MoDOT presented its report on motorcycle fatalities to the House Transportation Accountability Committee, detailing an increase in motorcycle fatalities since 2018.
“We’ve seen that in other states,” said Jon Nelson, assistant to the State Highway Safety and Traffic Engineer at MoDOT. “Whenever they’ve repealed a helmet law, (there are) similar increases.”
In 2020, Missouri legislature repealed a law that required all motorcyclists over 26 to wear a helmet, so long as the rider could provide proof of health insurance.
