Use of DOT-compliant motorcycle helmets decreased to 60 percent in 2012 from 66 percent in 2011, but the decrease is not statically significant. This result is from the National Occupant Protection Use Survey (NOPUS), the only survey that provides nationwide probability-based observed data on helmet use in the United States. The NOPUS is conducted by the National Center for Statistics and Analysis of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The motorcycle helmet use trend has been relatively flat over the last five years, as shown in Figure 1. Figure 2 shows the percentages of motorcyclists who were using DOT-compliant helmets, noncompliant helmets, and no helmet in 2011 and 2012. The 2012 survey also found the following: * Helmet use among motorcycle passengers decreased significantly to 46 percent in 2012 from 64 percent in 2011. * Helmet use continued to be significantly higher in States that require all motorcyclists to be helmeted than in other States. (Author/publisher)
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