Motorcycle deaths by state The following show helmet requirements by state and how many people died in motorcycle accidents in 2004, the most recent year available. The per capita rate of motorcycle deaths is 41 percent higher in states that do not require adults to wear helmets. Alabama ............ Helmets Mandatory ...... 74 Alaska ............. Children Only ........... 8 Arizona ............. Children Only ......... 119 Arkansas ........... Children Only .......... 57 California ......... Helmets Mandatory ..... 432 Colorado ........... No Law ................. 80 Connecticut ......... Children Only .......... 57 Delaware ........... Children Only ............ 8 Dist. of Columbia .. Helmets Mandatory ....... 8 Florida ............ Children Only ......... 432 Georgia ............. Helmets Mandatory ..... 111 Hawaii ............. Children Only .......... 21 Idaho .............. Children Only .......... 24 Illinois ........... No Law ................ 157 Indiana ............. Children Only ......... 108 Iowa ............... No Law .................. 37 Kansas ............. Children Only ........... 30 Kentucky ........... Children Only .......... 68 Louisiana ........... Helmets Mandatory ...... 72 Maine .............. Children Only ........... 22 Maryland ........... Helmets Mandatory ...... 69 Massachusetts ...... Helmets Mandatory ...... 58 Michigan ............ Helmets Mandatory ...... 81 Minnesota .......... Children Only .......... 52 Mississippi ........ Helmets Mandatory ...... 40 Missouri ........... Helmets Mandatory ...... 56 Montana ............. Children Only .......... 21 Nebraska ........... Helmets Mandatory ...... 21 Nevada ............. Helmets Mandatory ...... 52 New Hampshire ...... No Law ................. 28 New Jersey .......... Helmets Mandatory ...... 73 New Mexico ......... Children Only ........... 39 New York ........... Helmets Mandatory ..... 150 North Carolina ..... Helmets Mandatory ..... 134 North Dakota ........ Children Only ........... 9 Ohio ............... Children Only .......... 134 Oklahoma ........... Children Only .......... 78 Oregon ............. Helmets Mandatory ...... 37 Pennsylvania ........ Children Only ......... 158 Rhode Island ....... Children Only ........... 10 South Carolina ..... Children Only .......... 88 South Dakota ....... Children Only .......... 26 Tennessee ........... Helmets Mandatory ...... 93 Texas .............. Children Only .......... 285 Utah ............... Children Only .......... 31 Vermont ............ Helmets Mandatory ...... 11 Virginia ............ Helmets Mandatory ...... 57 Washington ......... Helmets Mandatory ...... 72 West Virginia ...... Helmets Mandatory ...... 27 Wisconsin .......... Children Only .......... 80 Wyoming ............. Children Only .......... 13 (Source: Scripps Howard News Service analysis of National Highway Transportation Safety Administration data.)