The British Motorcycle Action Group was founded in 1973 specifically in response to helmet compulsion, which generated debate in the UK House of Commons at the time.
[1] In addition, the British Motorcyclists Federation (BMF), founded in 1960 as a reaction to the public perception of motorcyclists as leather-jacketed hooligans, has itself moved into political lobbying.
[2] The American ABATE similarly works to improve motorcycle safety, as well as runs charity fund-raising events, and rallies, often for motorcycle-related political interests.
In the United States, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA, part of the Department of Transportation) has been the main federal government agency active in the debate over motorcycle rights for such things as off-road riding, vehicle requirements and helmets.
[4] Worldwide, many countries have defined their own sets of standards that are used to judge the effectiveness of a motorcycle helmet in an accident, and define the minimal acceptable standard thereof.