The constant and looming threat to Michigan's Motorcycle Helmet Law has again reared its ugly head. House Bill 4749 is proposing to allow motorcyclists who meet outlined criteria to ride without a helmet. The bill was vetoed by Gov. Granholm on June 13, 2008, and now will return to the Michigan Legislature in an attempt to override the governor's veto.
It is imperative that this veto is upheld.
If the Motorcycle Helmet Law is repealed in Michigan, motorcycle-related brain injuries and fatalities will dramatically increase -- and Michigan taxpayers will bear the brunt of this cost.
Many states have "successfully" repealed their helmet laws only to endure disastrous results. One of the most drastic examples was Florida's repeal of their helmet law in 2000. A study by the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) found that within 30 months of the repeal, head injury hospitalizations skyrocketed 80 percent and total cost for acute care of head injuries doubled to $44 million.
And that doesn't even begin to include the overwhelming cost of long-term rehabilitation or the economic impact of lost wages for survivors of a serious head injury and their families.
Bill 4749 requires Michigan motorcyclists riding without a helmet to carry $20,000 in personal injury insurance. NHTSA's 2005 study cites that average cost for acute care of hospitalized brain injuries, post-repeal in Florida, was nearly $40,000 -- again, not including long-term care. Needless to say, the required amount of $20,000 in insurance is not nearly enough.
Michigan Medicaid is already paying $19.7 million annually for the care of survivors of a brain injury. Amidst soaring gas and food prices and an unstable economy, Michigan taxpayers cannot absorb the increased public cost of care that will undoubtedly result from the repeal of the Motorcycle Helmet Law.
Freedom is what the supporters of this bill tout -- freedom to ride with their hair in the wind -- but freedom stops when their ride ends in tragedy. Freedom isn't free when Michigan's taxpayers must pay for the selfish choice of motorcyclists who simply do not want to wear a helmet.
As one who represents the 200,000 Michigan residents living with a brain injury and their families, I am calling for members of the Legislature and fellow residents of this great state to do the right thing -- support the Motorcycle Helmet Law and join the fight to defeat the attempt to override the Governor's veto. There is no other responsible choice.
About the author: Michael F. Dabbs of Ann Arbor is president of the Brain Injury Association of Michigan, which is located in Brighton.
About the forum: The forum is a periodic column of opinion written by Record-Eagle readers in their areas of interest or expertise. Submissions of 500 words or less may be made by e-mailing letters@record-eagle.com. Please include biographical information and a photo.
Print this story
E-mail this story
