National Highway Transportation Safety Administration statistics are clear: motorcyclists wearing helmets are less likely to be killed in an accident and are far less likely to suffer from serious head injury. In fact, NHTSA estimates that if helmet usage were mandatory, nearly 800 lives would be saved every year nationally.
Motorcyclists entering Laboratory property through a security checkpoint may on occasion be asked to remove their helmets in order to aid Protection Technology Los Alamos personnel in making a positive identification of the rider. Though it is not a Laboratory requirement, motorcyclists should not ride without a helmet just to make getting through a security checkpoint easier. Motorcyclists should wear a helmet, remove it if asked at the checkpoint and then put the helmet back on before continuing.