Helmet Law Repeal Leads to Staggering Rise in Injuries, Fatalities

The helmet is the single most important safety equipment which every motorcyclist must wear. And there should be no second thought or two ways about it. Unfortunately, even though wearing a motorcycle helmet is compulsory in our country, many people just choose to ignore the importance of wearing one. And enforcement of helmet laws is also not as stringent across the country.

In the U.S., there's a strong debate on whether riders should wear helmets or if wearing helmets should be a matter of personal choice since many motorcyclists, including motorcycle club members, consider it a form of self-expression. Currently, 19 states and the District of Columbia require all motorcyclists to wear helmets, while 28 states require only some motorcyclists to wear helmets. Three states have no helmet use law.

In 2012, the state of Michigan repealed a mandatory motorcycle helmet law. After the repeal, motorcyclists in Michigan can ride without a helmet if they are above 21 years old, have had their licence of more than two years, and have at least US$ 20,000 in medical insurance coverage.

Now, a study published in the American Journal of Surgery has revealed that the state has seen an increase in injuries and fatalities for motorcyclists after the compulsory helmet law was repealed. The study is limited to records of just one hospital - the Spectrum Health Hospital in Grand Rapids, but it reveals alarming figures.

The trauma centre at the hospital saw four times more riders without helmets admitted to the medical facility - as much as 28 per cent more after the helmet law was repealed as against 7 per cent when the helmet law was in force. Fatalities also increased three-fold - three times more riders without helmets lost their lives compared to the period before. Of all those admitted to the hospital from motorcycle crash-related injuries, 10 per cent lost their lives compared to only 3 per cent before the new law.

The most shocking statistic however, included those riders who didn't even make it to hospital. Non-helmeted rider fatality rate increased from 14 per cent before the law was repealed to as much as 68 per cent afterwards. That's nearly a five-fold increase in fatalities.

The study spans across a period of seven months before the helmet law was repealed and three full motorcycle riding seasons after the law was repealed. (In geographical regions like the state of Michigan, motorcycling is limited to warmer months; winter is considered non-riding season).

Now, this may be a relatively small sample size, but the writing is clear. Motorcycle and two wheeler helmets save lives, in any part of the world. We, of course, have always been staunch proponents of wearing all safety equipment while riding a motorcycle. Along with a helmet, proper riding boots, gloves, jacket and pants (with protective padding) are essential for ensuring a rider's safety in case of a spill or a crash. After all, riding a two wheeler is not always about skill or expertise, anyone can be faced with the unfortunate eventuality of a fall, however minor.

Even if going ATGATT (all the gear, all the time) may not be a very comfortable proposition considering our climate, a helmet is the basic necessity every rider on a two wheeler should adhere to. Riding a motorcycle or a two wheeler - whether for leisure or for the daily commute, should be done responsibly, and wearing a helmet is the least a rider can do for his or her own protection. Our advice always - ride safe and be responsible, to yourselves as well as to others.