Mich. House Passes Controversial Motorcycle Helmet Repeal Bill Today
June 7, 2006

With hundreds of motorcycle riders outside the Capitol, the Michigan state House today passed a controversial repeal of a mandate for riders to wear helmets.

The legislation passed by a 66-37 vote and is awaiting the signature of Gov. Jennifer Granholm.

Insurance Journal contacted the Governor's office and her spokesperson Liz Boyd said that "the Governor supports the current helmet law and does not support the repeal." Boyd would not comment further and did not say whether the Governor will, in fact, veto the bill.

Several previous efforts at overturning the law requiring all motorcyclists to wear a helmet have failed. The Michigan mandate has been in place for 37 years.

Essentially the bill would allow riders 21 and older to go without helmets if they have been licensed to operate a motorcycle for at least two years or have taken a safety course. An additional requirement would mandate that riders carry at least $10,000 in personal injury protection insurance.

Those supporting the legislation such as ABATE say motorcyclists should have the freedom to ride without a helmet. At least 30 other states, including some in the Midwest, give adults the option to not wear a helmet.

Organizations that oppose the legislation see the issue from a different perspective, saying not wearing helmets lead to more deaths and injuries, which will lead to higher medical bills and insurance rates.

"This is bad legislation--pure and simple, and no amount of political spin and rhethoric is going to make this a good legislation. You can't have good public policy by compromising on human safety." said Gary Mitchell, vice president of Public Affairs for the Michigan Association of Insurance Agents.

Each survivor of a severe head injury requires between $4.1 and $9 million in care over a lifetime, according to Mitchell.

Mitchell added that the number of accidents involving motorcycles has had a major impact on insurance and medical costs. Despite the fact that motorcyclists represent about 1.7 percent of the assessments paid into the Michigan Catastrophic Claims Association (MCCA), they accounted for almost 5 percent of all medical reimbursements, he said.

As of June 2005, the MCCA paid claims on 503 motorcycle accidents, totaling more than $210 million. The average motorcycle claim paid by the MCCA was over $418,000 last year (up 71 percent from the $297,000 paid in 1994).

AAA Michigan also released a statement opposing the repeal.

"We are disappointed and saddened that state lawmakers undertook this course of action," said Jack Peet, manager of Community Safety Services for AAA Michigan. "It makes absolutely no sense to make optional the only validated personal safety device available to a motorcycle rider."

 

Its all about $$$$$ I am sure you understand that?

Ride Safe!

 

My Brother has a sticker on his helmet that I think applies here---"Let Those That Ride Decide".

 

Here in NY we have the helmet law.when I ride up to CT there is no helmet law.I keep mine on anyway.I think all should have the right to choose.It's all just a ploy to get more insurance $$ out of us

 

Everything is about money. I believe in the riders right to decide but unfortunately it IS and always will be about money. The government doesn't care about PEOPLE, they care about cost. In New Hampshire you don't need to wear your helmet but you DO have to wear your seat belt in your car. Does THAT make sence to you?? It doesn't to me!

Unfortunately if the helmet law is repealed and the riders get the right to decide for themselves I'd bet anything the very next year ALL the motorcycle insurance will go way up and the insurance co's. will say they had to because of the rise in medical claims do to riders not wearing helmets.

When it comes to government and insurance it's a no win situation. The only people who really win are those collecting the money because that's what it's all about, it's NEVER honestly been about your safety.

 

True that,,,,,,,,,,,,,good post.Yea seat belts are a joke.Not wearing them but the law itself.What made realize the stupidity of this law was,I was stopped for no seat belt.as the LEO is speaking to me.A school bus pulled up & kids got off the bus.As the Leo is looking at my lic & reg,.i yelled out to the bus driver & asked if thall the kids on the bus had seat belts.His reply.....not one.i created such a stink,the town got involved.If seat belts are sooooooo important,why aren't they on school buses.

 

Granholm = democrat, democrat = trying to take care of all of us stupid citizens, therefore helmet repeal = vetoed [:@]

 

My health insurance requires the use of a D.O.T. approved helmet if they are going to pay for a motorcycle accident. I wear one, and have dropped my P.I.P. insurance from my motorcycle insurance. Insurance for Personal Injury Protection might go up, but it shouldn't affect my comp or collision insurance.

If you want to wear a helmet--fine. If you don't, then you might have to pay higher P.I.P. insurance or not be covered. Either way,

 

yep...



[sm=exactly.gif]

 

Eazy,,,,,,,,it's your health insurance that requires you to wear a DOT helmet,or your motorcycle insurance?I never heard of this