The Motorcycle Helmet Law

Millions of people all over the United States choose motorcycles over automobiles for the thrill, speed, and high performance capabilities. On the other hand, motorcycles are not at all the safest way of transportation. Motorcycles do not provide the passenger with the outer protection that cars provide, therefore, when one crashes, the results are usually much more serious. Injuries to the head are responsible for 76% of fatalities when dealing with motorcycle crashes many of which could have been prevented had the rider been wearing a helmet. For this reason, many states have adopted the motorcycle helmet law. The law states that every passengers must wear a helmet at all times when riding on a motorcycle. This law has created a great deal of controversy. One side supports the law, believing that it protects motorcyclists from danger and saves the economy a great deal of money. The other side argues that the law is unconstitutional and it violates our right to freedom. However, statistics show overwhelming support in favor of the motorcycle helmet law. Although wearing helmets cannot prevent motorcycle crashes, they can greatly reduce the number of deaths caused by head injury as well as lowering taxes, insurance rates, and health care costs. Therefore, the helmet law should be put into effect in every state across the United States.

Helmets drastically reduce the tremendous number of deaths caused by head injuries as well as reducing the severity of any nonfatal injuries to the head. Statistics gathered by the Safety Nationwide Insurance Enterprises show that an unhelmeted rider is 40% more likely to suffer fatal head injuries, compared with a helmeted rider. Also, with the helmet law in effect, close to 100% of motorcyclists wear a helmet. Without the law, only 50% of motorcyclists wear helmets. Also, death rates are twice as high in states without the law. One study estimated that because 25 states ratified the law, over 3,300 lives were saved last year alone.

Since helmets reduce the risk of injury and death, they will also, in tern, help the economy. The Vice President of Safety Nationwide Insurance Enterprises, Tim Hoyt, states, "We may not be able to eliminate all the risk from motorcycling, but helmet laws greatly reduce the most expensive injuries - head injuries. Reducing these costs is good for the consumer and it Is good for business, too." Health care costs and insurance rates are lowered because it is not as expensive to treat smaller-scale injuries. The government ends up paying a large portion of people's medical bills because of different types of public assistance programs. Hence, when health care costs are lower, the government does not need as much of our money to pay for those programs and taxes are reduced. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety estimated that over $4 million dollars were saved last year as a direct result of the motorcycle helmet law. For these reasons the motorcycle helmet law should indisputably be enforced in every state.

If the motorcycle helmet law helps the economy and more importantly saves lives, why doesn't the entire country enforce