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Exemptions to Mandatory Helmet Laws


Summary: Links to examples of helmet law exemptions.


The links below are to pages related to exemptions from mandatory helmet laws. Only the first few apply to a bicycle helmet law, and the rest are for motorcyclists and low-powered vehicle users.


Bicycle Helmet Laws


Victoria, British Columbia bicycle medical exemption

The following persons are exempt from the requirement under section 184 of the Act to wear a bicycle safety helmet: [am. B.C. Reg. 305/99, s. 2.]

[Provisions of the Motor Vehicle Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 318, relevant to the enactment of this regulation: section 184 (6)]


Formerly in the Pennsylvania helmet law, apparently repealed.
New Zealand's bicycle helmet medical exemption was apparently repealed.

A web search indicates that some of the exemptions were sought by anti-helmet law riders rather than for the religious reasons or physical problems that had been expected.

Australia's State of Northern Territory has perhaps the most curious exemption of all. It apparently limits the helmet requirement for anyone over 17 to public roads with motor traffic.


Motorcycle and Other Helmet Laws

Our list of Helmet Laws

We keep a current list of mandatory helmet laws by state and local jurisdiction.


How to treat standards

Advice for anyone writing a new helmet law on what helmet standards to reference.


Texts of Laws

We have a number of mandatory helmet laws from states and localities in the U.S. available: