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What You Should Know About Pennsylvania’s Motorcycle Safety Laws

motorcycle operator country roadIn order to ensure the safety of motorcyclists, Pennsylvania has created laws that operators and riders must follow when traveling on a motorcycle.

If you or someone you love frequently enjoys riding on a motorcycle, it is important that you know and understand these laws to increase roadway safety and prevent serious motorcycle accidents in Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania Helmet Law

Pennsylvania’s motorcycle helmet law states all drivers and riders of motorcycles must wear helmets, unless they meet one of the following conditions:

  • Operators and occupants of three-wheeled motorcycles with enclosed cabs
  • Operators who are 21-years or older who have held a motorcycle license for two or more full calendar years
  • Operators who are 21-years or older who have completed motorcycle safety courses through the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) or the Motorcycle Safety Foundation
  • Riders who are 21-years or older and are passengers on motorcycles driven by operators that have meet the above-mentioned exemptions

All helmets must be approved by PennDOT and must meet the standards of the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT).

The helmet should contain a DOT sticker that is visibly placed on the outside. It should also be labeled with the manufacturer’s name, model number, size, and month/year of the helmet’s manufacturing date.

All motorcycle riders and operators in Pennsylvania are also required to wear protective eyewear while traveling on a motorcycle. This gear must also be approved by PennDOT.

Riding a Motorcycle

In order to improve roadway safety, Title 75 § 3522 of Pennsylvania’s legislation imposes strict limits the seating and methods of riding a motorcycle.

Operators and riders can only ride on a motorcycle that has permanently attached seats. If the operator has a passenger on his or her motorcycle, the rider can only ride on the vehicle if it has permanent regular seating for two people.

Riders may never sit in front of the operator while the motorcycle is in motion. A rider can only face forward with his or her legs on each side of the vehicle except if he or she is riding in a sidecar.

It is against the law in Pennsylvania to ride a motorcycle in any way that jeopardizes the safety of the operator or rider. An example of this would be an operator riding with a package or item that prevents the operator from using both hands to control the motorcycle.

Preventing Motorcycle Injuries

The laws and requirements for motorcycle riders mentioned above are important for ensuring the safety of all riders.

Although PA law no longer requires use of a helmet for most riders, the device has been proven to reduce fatality rates.

Helmets were estimated to have saved 1,630 lives and $2.8 billion in economic costs during 2013 and reduced the risk of death for operators and riders by 37 percent. The device also reduced the risk of injury by 69 percent, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has also found motorcycle helmet use reduces traumatic brain injuries and facial injuries in accidents.

Legal Help for Victims of Motorcycle Accidents

If you were injured or lost someone you love in a motorcycle accident, contact the attorneys of Schmidt Kramer for experienced representation for your claim.

Our motorcycle accident attorneys work as a team to investigate your crash and identify the at-fault party. We will dedicate ourselves to helping you obtain compensation for your accident and all related pain and suffering.

Our fees only come on a contingency fee basis, which means you do not up owe us any up-front legal fees. We only require you to pay if we recover damages or a fair outcome regarding your claim.

Call (717) 888-8888 if you have been affected by a motorcycle accident.