The repeal of Michigan’s helmet law was the topic of my first ICLE Staff Blog post in 2012. The post described the throngs of motorcycles that had been annually rumbling through the streets of downtown Lansing and parking in front of the capitol to protest the helmet law. Five years later, apparently the rumble of hundreds of motorcycles was again heard in Lansing this summer. Their message: “Don’t mess with Michigan’s helmet[less] law.”
The message appears to be working. Bills introduced to require helmet use have so far not made it out of committee, despite the data that some groups argue supports legislation to require helmets. These prohelmet groups argue that the 2012 repeal has had serious consequences. Data from the Michigan State Police showed that in 2015, there were 3,096 incidents involving motorcycles causing death (140), injury (2,210), or property damage (746). This is the highest number of people killed in accidents involving motorcycles since 1985. From 2000 to 2011, the average was 112 motorcyclists killed each year. From 2012 to 2015, the average increased to 126. Some hospitals have also been gathering data on motorcycle accidents. Butterworth Hospital in Grand Rapids reports that the average medical cost for nonhelmeted riders is 32 percent higher than for those wearing helmets. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety also has a lot of data to support their conclusion: “Because serious head injury is common among fatally injured motorcyclists, helmet use is important. Helmets are about 37 percent effective in preventing motorcycle deaths and about 67 percent effective in preventing brain injuries. Yet only 19 states and the District of Columbia mandate helmet use by all riders.”
A spokesperson for ABATE (American Bikers Aiming Toward Education) said he remains unpersuaded that riding without a helmet is more dangerous. He said that a better riding season due to better weather was a primary factor in the increase in fatalities and that doctors have a “skewed perspective.” ABATE provides its own data to support its opposition to a universal helmet law in Michigan. According to ABATE’s analysis of information provided by the Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning comparing postamendment (2014) to preamendment (2005), fatalities decreased by 9.1 percent, fatalities and crashes continue to trend downward, and half of motorcyclists involved in fatal accidents were wearing helmets anyway.
When I encounter a motorcycle driving down the road, especially when someone goes flying by without a helmet, I shudder a little. As the debate continues and the motorcycles line up in front of the Michigan capitol, we just have to remember to be extra careful when we see those riders, whether they have a helmet or not.