You wouldn’t dream of hopping on your bike without your helmet, right? Right? Well, here’s even more motivation to strap one on before you go for a ride: States with mandatory helmet laws have a significantly lower rate of death and serious injury related to biking accidents, according to new research presented last week at the Pediatric Academic Societies annual meeting in Washington, D.C.

The study looked at the effectiveness of legislation requiring helmets be worn by children younger than 16 years of age. Researchers found that states where going helmet-free is illegal had a lower incidence of fatalities and incapacitating injuries from bicycle-motor vehicle collisions than states without helmet laws—two per one million children, versus two point five per one million children. That may not sound like a huge difference, but it’s a 25 percent increase, which is significant.

“There’s no reason to believe the same conclusion wouldn’t be drawn about adults,” says lead study author William P. Meehan III, MD, FAAP, director of the Micheli Center for Sports Injury Prevention and the Sports Concussion Clinic at Boston Children’s Hospital. “If helmets are worn—and worn properly—they can save lives.”

Twenty-one states and Washington, D.C., require all bike riders under a certain age (generally 16) to use helmets, according to the Governors Highway Safety Association. The remaining 29 states have no helmet law.

About 900 people die each year in bicycle crashes, and three-quarters of them are due to head injuries, says Meehan. “When your head strikes or is struck by something, the skull is often fractured, which can cause bleeding in your brain. Helmets can reduce the risk of injury and death.”

Don’t have a lid for you noggin’ yet? Make getting one a priority, regardless of what the current law says in your state. Here are some of your best bets:

You don’t have to let your hair down to sport the Specialized Aspire helmet: It has a HairPort SL Fit System that adjusts to the height of your pony.
$ 65; specialized.com for retailers

The POC Crane has a thicker shell with a stiff exterior for ultimate impact protection. And the unique size adjustment system provides the perfect fit, no matter how big or small your noggin’ is.
$ 120; pocsports.com

What the Bern Berkley lacks in weight (it’s less than 15.5 ounces), it makes up for in style: The slim-fitting helmet comes in seven different colors for you to choose from.
$ 80; bernunlimited.com

You can take or leave the visor on this Bell Strut helmet—it snaps on and off. The ErgoDial fit system ensures that it’s comfy—and that it stays put.
$ 40, bellhelmets.com

Perfect for ladies who like to do a little off-roading, the visor on this Giro Xara helmet keeps both sun and branches out of your eyes.
$ 130; giro.com

The 23 vents and internal moisture wicking pads in the Cannondale Teramo ensure you’ll stay cool while keeping sweat at bay. Its two-layered EPS foam construction helps distribute force from any form of impact.
$ 130; cannondale.com

photo: iStockphoto/Thinkstock