As an experienced (15 yrs) rider in Illinois, I find it a breath of fresh air that Michigan put the decision to wear a helmet in the hands of the rider. It opens up new territory to explore next summer.
I wonder where the 80% number quoted in this article comes from? Obviously those inattentive driver’s on their cell phones that don’t bother to yield for the motorcycle with the right of way. 80% of the fatalities are caused by inattentive driving. In addition, the accident rate is increasing due to the increased popularity of riding.
Stop reporting the facts that meet the spin needs of your article
That breath of fresh Air must be blowing through your ears. I had a client with a million dollar motorcycle accident, he actually died 4 times. The fourth day he had surgury to take TEETHS out of his lungs.Who do you think paid for this. Not the drunk who pulled out of the parking lot and crushed him. Sign a waiver that I, the taxpayer, won’t have to keep you on a ventilator for thirty years after they piece you back together.
But a jet ski.
The reason Michigan is repealing the law, like many other states who have done so, is that the real facts do not substantiate imposing a helmet law. Here are the facts as presented by National Highway Traffic Safety Administration http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/pdf/nrd-30/NCSA/TSF2003/809764.pdf
First of all in 2002, the most current complete data available, Michigan (a helmet law state) had 4.25 fatalities per 10,000 riders. During that same period of time Wisconsin (a no helmet law state) had 4.01 fatalities per 10,000 riders. If I were to be glib, I could imply that you are safer without a helmet but that would be as incorrect and misleading as the comments of Richard Miller of AAA as well as the anonymous author of this article.
As a long time rider I am constantly irritated by the ignorance of the liberals and the uninformed that try to impose their one sided views of the world on me and everyone else. My guess is that neither Mr. Miller or the author of this article rides a motorcycle.
In my opinion, here are the important facts from the NHTSA that warrant consideration.
Nationally:
· 25% of all motorcycle fatalities involved a rider with an invalid license
· 36% of all motorcycle fatalities involved speeding
· 32% of all motorcycle fatalities involved driving with a BAC of .08 or greater
· 40% involved some alcohol
· 53% of all fatally injured motorcycle riders were wearing helmets at the time of the accident (a helmet didn’t do a thing for these poor souls)
· By far the largest group of fatalities involved individuals between the ages of 20-29
The NHTSA states that a helmet saved or could have saved a percentage of riders. This is just conjecture. The facts are that half of all riders that died had a helmet on. Helmets do have value, do save some lives and should be required for youthful inexperienced operators but it is really experience, and responsible riding that will save many more lives. For you liberals, how about a law that does that. Then you will really will save lives.
Yes, there is danger in everything that we do and yes people do die. But the facts show that if I want to be safer on my motorcycle I must ride responsibly. No helmet law imposed by the ignorant is ever going to change that simple fact.
How come only some of the facts are given – show me the # of accidents where a motorcyclist WEARING a helmet is involved in and his recovery versus the motorcyclist NOT wearing a helmet and the fact that he lived – as a ‘vegetable’ or the inability to ever return to gainful employment again. Yes, I hear the fatality stories – but NO ONE tells of the critically injured HEAD injuries – who “survive”! I HATE wearing a helmet, but I dont want to be a ‘vegetable’ because of some stupid accident that may or may not have been my fault.
How come only some of the facts are given – show me the # of accidents where a motorcyclist WEARING a helmet is involved in and his recovery versus the motorcyclist NOT wearing a helmet and the fact that he lived – as a ‘vegetable’ or the inability to ever return to gainful employment again. Yes, I hear the fatality stories – but NO ONE tells of the critically injured HEAD injuries – who “survive”! I HATE wearing a helmet, but I dont want to be a ‘vegetable’ because of some stupid accident that may or may not have been my fault.
By the way, I am 40 years old and also a responsible rider.
Rather than focus on a brain bucket, why don’t these liberals force manufacturers to put ABS on all motorcycles. I guarantee that will save more lives than a helmet. BMW has already taken the initative. I’ll never sell mine.
So helmets reduce the degree of injury huh. Tell us something we don’t know. Not smoking will increase the chances of one NOT getting lung cancer. Not driving reduces the exposure to automobile accidents.
The question is not if it reduces anything. The question is what right does Government have to require us to protect ourselves.
If you take away the drunk drivers, drugged drivers, drivers eating, reading, doing crossword puzzles, putting on makeup, using the cell phone, leaving late for work, speeding and simply not paying attention, there would be a lot less accidents. If you get the 4 wheelers to pay attention and recognize the fact that riders are out there and they have a right to be out there, again, there would be a lot less accidents. Helmets are not a benefit to anyone but the manufactures of Helmets, they make money. It has been suggested that if my helmet falls off the seat of my bike and it’s the black top, I SHOULD BUY A NEW ONE. Tells you how protective they are. Let those who ride decide.
Please, give me a break! If you are stupid enough to NOT wear a helmet then good riddance. Its not about statistics its about what is right. If I don\’t have to wear a helmet then why the hell do I have to wear a seat belt? Every state should have helmet laws!!!
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As an experienced (15 yrs) rider in Illinois, I find it a breath of fresh air that Michigan put the decision to wear a helmet in the hands of the rider. It opens up new territory to explore next summer.
I wonder where the 80% number quoted in this article comes from? Obviously those inattentive driver’s on their cell phones that don’t bother to yield for the motorcycle with the right of way. 80% of the fatalities are caused by inattentive driving. In addition, the accident rate is increasing due to the increased popularity of riding.
Stop reporting the facts that meet the spin needs of your article
That breath of fresh Air must be blowing through your ears. I had a client with a million dollar motorcycle accident, he actually died 4 times. The fourth day he had surgury to take TEETHS out of his lungs.Who do you think paid for this. Not the drunk who pulled out of the parking lot and crushed him. Sign a waiver that I, the taxpayer, won’t have to keep you on a ventilator for thirty years after they piece you back together.
But a jet ski.
The reason Michigan is repealing the law, like many other states who have done so, is that the real facts do not substantiate imposing a helmet law. Here are the facts as presented by National Highway Traffic Safety Administration http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/pdf/nrd-30/NCSA/TSF2003/809764.pdf
First of all in 2002, the most current complete data available, Michigan (a helmet law state) had 4.25 fatalities per 10,000 riders. During that same period of time Wisconsin (a no helmet law state) had 4.01 fatalities per 10,000 riders. If I were to be glib, I could imply that you are safer without a helmet but that would be as incorrect and misleading as the comments of Richard Miller of AAA as well as the anonymous author of this article.
As a long time rider I am constantly irritated by the ignorance of the liberals and the uninformed that try to impose their one sided views of the world on me and everyone else. My guess is that neither Mr. Miller or the author of this article rides a motorcycle.
In my opinion, here are the important facts from the NHTSA that warrant consideration.
Nationally:
· 25% of all motorcycle fatalities involved a rider with an invalid license
· 36% of all motorcycle fatalities involved speeding
· 32% of all motorcycle fatalities involved driving with a BAC of .08 or greater
· 40% involved some alcohol
· 53% of all fatally injured motorcycle riders were wearing helmets at the time of the accident (a helmet didn’t do a thing for these poor souls)
· By far the largest group of fatalities involved individuals between the ages of 20-29
The NHTSA states that a helmet saved or could have saved a percentage of riders. This is just conjecture. The facts are that half of all riders that died had a helmet on. Helmets do have value, do save some lives and should be required for youthful inexperienced operators but it is really experience, and responsible riding that will save many more lives. For you liberals, how about a law that does that. Then you will really will save lives.
Yes, there is danger in everything that we do and yes people do die. But the facts show that if I want to be safer on my motorcycle I must ride responsibly. No helmet law imposed by the ignorant is ever going to change that simple fact.
How come only some of the facts are given – show me the # of accidents where a motorcyclist WEARING a helmet is involved in and his recovery versus the motorcyclist NOT wearing a helmet and the fact that he lived – as a ‘vegetable’ or the inability to ever return to gainful employment again. Yes, I hear the fatality stories – but NO ONE tells of the critically injured HEAD injuries – who “survive”! I HATE wearing a helmet, but I dont want to be a ‘vegetable’ because of some stupid accident that may or may not have been my fault.
How come only some of the facts are given – show me the # of accidents where a motorcyclist WEARING a helmet is involved in and his recovery versus the motorcyclist NOT wearing a helmet and the fact that he lived – as a ‘vegetable’ or the inability to ever return to gainful employment again. Yes, I hear the fatality stories – but NO ONE tells of the critically injured HEAD injuries – who “survive”! I HATE wearing a helmet, but I dont want to be a ‘vegetable’ because of some stupid accident that may or may not have been my fault.
By the way, I am 40 years old and also a responsible rider.
Rather than focus on a brain bucket, why don’t these liberals force manufacturers to put ABS on all motorcycles. I guarantee that will save more lives than a helmet. BMW has already taken the initative. I’ll never sell mine.
Nice to hear from you….
Great come back…
Hope all were not only listening…but digesting…..
Marie
So helmets reduce the degree of injury huh. Tell us something we don’t know. Not smoking will increase the chances of one NOT getting lung cancer. Not driving reduces the exposure to automobile accidents.
The question is not if it reduces anything. The question is what right does Government have to require us to protect ourselves.
If you take away the drunk drivers, drugged drivers, drivers eating, reading, doing crossword puzzles, putting on makeup, using the cell phone, leaving late for work, speeding and simply not paying attention, there would be a lot less accidents. If you get the 4 wheelers to pay attention and recognize the fact that riders are out there and they have a right to be out there, again, there would be a lot less accidents. Helmets are not a benefit to anyone but the manufactures of Helmets, they make money. It has been suggested that if my helmet falls off the seat of my bike and it’s the black top, I SHOULD BUY A NEW ONE. Tells you how protective they are. Let those who ride decide.
Please, give me a break! If you are stupid enough to NOT wear a helmet then good riddance. Its not about statistics its about what is right. If I don\’t have to wear a helmet then why the hell do I have to wear a seat belt? Every state should have helmet laws!!!