A new congressional effort seeks to overturn Washington, D. C.'
s universal motorcycle helmet requirement.
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The Ride in Freedom Act, introduced by Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-Wis.
) and Sen. Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.
), would bar the District from mandating helmets for riders and passengers.
Van Orden, a Harley-Davidson rider, sees D. C.
as a starting point for a broader national conversation on helmet mandates.
His spokeswoman, Grace Kim, said, "If Congress can change the policy here, it opens the door to having a larger conversation about the federal government's role in helmet mandates across the country."
Both Wisconsin and Montana, the lawmakers' home states, only require helmets for riders under 18.
Rising Deaths in the District
D. C.
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has already seen six motorcycle crash deaths this year, up from two in 2025.
Since 2014, at least 67 people have died in motorcycle crashes in the District, though helmet use data is not available.
Nationwide, 6,228 motorcyclists died in crashes in 2024, representing 16 percent of all traffic fatalities.
The U. S.
Transportation Department estimated motorcyclists were nearly 28 times more likely than car occupants to die per mile traveled in 2023.
Helmets Save Lives
In states without universal helmet laws, 51 percent of motorcyclists killed in 2023 were not wearing helmets.
In states with universal requirements like D. C.'
s, that figure was just 10 percent, according to NHTSA data.
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While adults should be free to decide their own risks, motorcycles are unforgiving, and helmets offer critical protection.
