Motorcyclists Don’t Want to Wear Helmets

Governor Granholm of Michigan is currently looking at a law, House Bill 749 that would release the motorcyclists of the state from having to wear helmets when operating their bikes. Motorcyclists from across the state are hoping that Granholm does not veto the bill, and that they get back their freedom of choice as to whether or not to wear a helmet.

Many auto insurance policyholders are pushing for the governor to veto the bill, as they say that their insurance rates will go up if helmets are not mandatory. Bike riders say that this is not true, that they bear the brunt of the costs when they pay their insurance. They also say that wearing a helmet can cause injuries that they would not have gotten had they not been wearing it.

Some say that because they have to wear a seatbelt in their car that riders should have to wear a helmet, and motorcyclists say that the comparison is unfair. That seatbelts have been proven to save lives, whereas helmets have not. They say that since head trauma is the number one killer in auto accidents that they should have to wear a helmet also.

They say that helmets can actually cause an accident as they impair their ability to know everything that goes on around them. Instead of being able to be more aware of the sights and sounds around them, the helmet keeps that from happening. They say that the federal government has admitted to the limitations on drivers with helmets, and yet they refuse to do anything about it. They say that they can only stress the importance of the governor allowing the bill to pass.

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