Injuries soar after Michigan stops requiring motorcycle helmets

[Staph]

22. Could it have anything to do with

the state's Republican governor, state Senate and state House of Representatives?

The (helmet) law was written with input from ABATE, a motorcycle association dedicated to improving motorcycle safety and car driver awareness of motorcyclists on the roads. The new law gives Michigan the strictest requirements for riding helmet-free of any state that has modified mandatory helmet laws for adult choice (30 states). Allowing motorcyclists to ride helmet-free could also generate more than $1 billion in direct and indirect revenue, according to a recent Michigan Consultants study.

“The problem is, helmet laws have done nothing to improve safety or reduce fatalities or the cost of insurance,” said Vince Consiglio, President of ABATE of Michigan. “Motorcycle accidents are a very small percentage of accidents overall. Data from other states demonstrate that states that remove mandatory helmet laws do not see an increase in insurance premiums, and states that institute helmet laws do not see a corresponding decrease in insurance rates. It’s never happened. In addition, the leading insurance lobbyist was videotaped testifying before a senate committee last session saying that residents in Michigan will NOT see any rate increase as a result of the passage of this bill. This is yet another reason that we garnered such a large support base from the Michigan legislature.

http://www.abateofmichigan.org/Michigan'sHelmetChoiceLaw.htm