How about the true facts:

https://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/22214

Also need to factor in the large rise in licensed riders and the fact that many of the accidents are those without motorcycle endorsements.

Choice IS the right answer.

 

I live and ride in Michigan. Been riding for over 30 years. I have no problem with someone choosing to ride without a helmet. It's their choice. I use a helmet. Always will. I had a close call years ago, back in the day when they oiled gravel roads to keep the dust down. When a oil truck pulled back out on to the paved main road, he forgot to shut his PTO off and continued to oil an asphalt road. As luck would have it, I was coming up behind him. Might as well been on slick ice. The bike just slid right out from under me. I was fine, except for a few burns from the rivets on my jeans, but when I finally came to a stop and took my helmet off, there was a section on that helmet that had been ground right down to the foam. If I didn't have a helmet on that day, that would have been my brains exposed, instead of the foam in the helmet.

Like I said, it's a choice. But just remember this. If you wear a helmet, it's no guarantee that you will escape harm if you lay it down. But if you choose NOT to wear a helmet, you have almost guaranteed that you WILL be in trouble. That probably will not end well for you. I don't care how many years you have been riding, or how safe you are. **** can happen so fast, that you don't have time to react. Too many stupid people on the road today. Really makes me think about giving it up. So the next time you think about not wearing a helmet, keep that it mind. Not wearing a helmet does NOT make you more of man, or appear tougher. Just makes you look unwise. Hope that freedom I keep hearing about is worth it.

 

Yep ... a whole lot of useless, fact less, baseless opinions with no supporting material until "bogiediver" shows up. I also agree with "rons" assessment of the "Hackers" statement.

 

The author of the article is an obvious liar and fan of helmets! There is no reliable information that supports his claims. The reality is that in more than 50% of motorcycle fatalities, the victims were wearing helmets. The REAL problems are ROW violations, unendorsed riders, and alcohol use. Helmets won solve any of those issues!

 

im in arizona, no helmet law, but still wear one. to many stories about people dying form falling and hitting there head, including indian larry.

 

It is not so much 'saving money' or the actual number of head injuries. More important, it could be argued, is the number of miles driven/ridden vs. the number of head injuries. At least when consideration is given regarding the cost to society. And any possible repercussions due to societal response.

Even more important, the people that drive cars wouldn't stand for such legislation. And they have the numbers, votes, to make legislators take note of their position. Unlike motorcycle riders which don't have the number of, especially of real committed, riders to influence legislator's actions. IMO

 

Good points!


But the real important, IMO, part of the issue can't be known. That is how many riders are involved in an incident of some sort and nobody but the rider, and perhaps the driver of another vehicle, knows about the 'incident' because the rider is able to get up and ride, or at least walk, away because a helmet prevented/minimized a head injury?

Not everybody is lucky enough to die instantly or soon after an incident. For most 'life' probably goes on.

 

I say let people choose. There's a real shortage of transplant organs in the US. If this helps reduce the backlog, then I am for it.

Of course, being the selfish bastard that I am, I intend to continue with my helmet. I put my bike down once where I am pretty sure that my full face helmet saved me a lot of reconstructive surgery to the right side of my face.

 

Bunch of us went out to Ohio to the Vintage Races at Mid-Ohio raceway. Since there was no helmet law in Ohio, and it was super-hot, we all decided to ride from the hotel to the restaurant which was about 5 miles away with no lids, just sunglasses. I have to say it was a nearly surreal experience for all of us, we discussed at dinner and to a man we all felt very naked, exposed, and extremely vulnerable. There were nine of us and that short jaunt was the only time we ran with no helmets. Its funny what you get used to.....

 

I wear a helmet, yet glad I live in a state where it's my choice.