from REASON

original article at:   http://reason.com/blog/show/128190.html

Can Rising Motorcycle Fatalities Be Blamed on a Lack of Helmet Laws?

Posted on August 20, 2008, 1:21pm | Jacob Sullum

The number of fatal motorcycle accidents rose in 2007 for the 10th consecutive year, hitting 5,154, 7 percent higher than the 2006 total. Meanwhile, car fatalities fell by 8 percent and light truck fatalities fell by 3 percent, "pushing the overall death rate [for motor vehicle accidents"> to a historic low," The New York Times reports. The share of motor vehicle deaths caused by motorcycle crashes has more than doubled since 1997, from 5 percent to 13 percent. Although advocates of helmet laws will be inclined to blame their repeal in several states for the rising motorcycle fatalities, the chief culprit recently seems to be higher gas prices, which have encouraged people to take advantage of motorcycles' vastly superior fuel efficiency:

Motorcycle ridership appears to be rising even as the total miles for all vehicles drops....The highway safety authorities say that about 75 percent more motorcycles are registered today than 10 years ago. They suspect each motorcycle is ridden more miles, but the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says it does not have a reliable measurement of use.

The lack of such data makes it difficult to tell how much of an increase in fatalities following repeal of a helmet law results from less helmet wearing and how much results from more riding. The Times avers that "ridership has probably become more dangerous mile for mile," but without reliable information on miles ridden, it's impossible to know for sure. Assuming the Times is right, less helmet wearing is not the only explanation:  

Safety officials say many of the [newer"> riders are middle-age or older men who rode when they were young, gave it up as they raised children and have recently gone back to the bike. "They think they still have the same reflexes," said James Port, the safety agency's deputy administrator.

Motorcycle riding is inherently dangerous. While wearing a helmet reduces the risk of certain injuries, research suggests the overall impact on fatalities is modest. The unimpressive numbers are one reason motorcyclists have been so successful at defending their right to decide what, if anything, to wear on their heads. "We are the only industrialized country in the world where there is an organized effort to weaken or repeal motorcycle helmet laws," complains Russ Rader of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Is that a sign of backwardness or a point of pride?

People need to stop blaming helmets, or lack there of for deaths..... The leading cause of death for motorcyclists is other cars not paying attention and running us over... A good friend of mine was murdered last week by a small truck that was not paying attention... and he was wearing a helmet in a state with a helmet law......

Our 'individual' rights have become little more than bargaining chips to the 'only ones' we put in office.  The political class forgot the concept of liberty a long time ago.  We're just pawns in a game we aren't even allowed to understand.

Since the story is from the NY Times, I suspect it anyway.  Like the previous posters have stated, cagers not paying attention is our #1 threat.

I can only give my personal opinion.  I'm not up on the facts or statistics.  Like most other poster's have said, I feel it is a matter of your own preference.  The fact that motorcycle fatalities have increased in my opinion, is the fact that more people are buying motorcycles because of the gas prices.  Some of those people have never had a MC endorsment before or have not riden for 20 years...  The inexperienced think that it is just like driving a car and that everyone sees them or simply do not know the dangers of other drivers or critters on the road..  A manditory helmet law will not change the fact that the more riders there are, the more chances for accidents which in turn will increase the chance of fatal crashes..

I figure if God wants me he'll take me whether or not I have a helmet so I choose to let the wind blow over my bald head!  LOL

I dont wear a helmet unless the state tells me I do.It is my choice in the states that dont require. My reason for not wearing a helmet .

 Im to UGLY to have a open casket anyway.

 Ride free, If ya want to wear the damn brain bucket then put it on, if not then dont, its the riders decision not any one elses.Join your local ABATE,or anything against legislation propaganda.

I got hit 2.5 months ago and am still off work because of brain injury.  Although the helmet saved my life, i'm still suffering.  The car that hit me was the problem.  Not my riding.  Not anything other than the stupidity of the person doing a last second u-tun and not looking for motorcycles.

When will people start looking?

Big a