With Minnesota starting to pull over automobile drivers and enforce the mandatory seatbelt law, several people have begun to again question why motorcyclists are not required to wear a helmet. Let me state right from the start that I do not own a motorcycle and have never even ridden on one, so I fully admit that I do not know the exhilaration of having the wind and my few hairs blow freely without a helmet. I do drive a car though and there are times on long trips I don’t particularly care for a tight seatbelt strap wrapped around my chest.
One of the most memorable classes I ever had at the University of St. Thomas was Freshman Logic class. Dr. Berquist would tear apart arguments into equations. It would go something like this…If A=C, and if B=C, then A also must equal C. Let’s say A = seatbelts. And lets say C = saving lives. And let’s say B = motorcycle helmets. The argument should go… If wearing seatbelts is a safety device proven to save lives and if a motorcycle helmet is a safety device proven to save lives, then seatbelts and motorcycle helmets are equal and of the same nature. If our state legislature believes in legislating morality (and most governments do and that’s fine) then its tough not to have a mandatory helmet law.
But Minnesota is not alone. 29 states have mandatory seatbelt laws. 20 states (including North Dakota and South Dakota) have secondary seatbelt laws covering only the front seat. New Hampshire has no law for seat belts. Only 20 states currently have mandatory motorcycle helmet laws for everyone. Iowa, Illinois and New Hampshire have NO motorcycle helmet laws whatsoever, with the balance (including MN, WI, ND, and SD) having laws making helmets mandatory for operators and passengers 17 years old or younger. With about 5 million registered motorcycles (2003 numbers) and with 136 million registered automobiles, a person has to wonder how the motorcycle lobby has done it.
Most of the success is attributed to a group founded in 1971 by the name of ABATE, or the American Brotherhood Against Totalitarian Enactments. They have taken the stand that they do not oppose helmets; they just advocate the freedom of choice. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the insurance industry continues to push for mandatory universal helmet laws. They bring up the fact that the fatality rate per mile traveled is more than 25 times as high for a motorcycle as it is for cars. Government has long taken a role in discouraging society from participating in risky habits such as smoking, drinking and overeating, believing there is an economic cost associated with these. They have put motorcycle helmets with this group of risky behaviors.
The motorcycle lobby states that they have proven motorcycle helmets do not offer the same amount of protection as seatbelts. Even the NHTSA has stated that their studies show that people who wear seatbelts are 20% less likely to be injured and 60% less likely to be killed, while motorcyclist with helmets were only 9% less likely to be injured and 35% less likely to be killed.
The bottom line to this is the debate continues. There has never been a well organized opposition to seat belt regulations in America. Part of this had to do with the automobile industry supporting and adopting regulation so quickly, whereas motorcycle manufacturers worry about antagonizing customers, and politicians are just worry about provoking single issue voters with fervent causes and long memories. Just another example of life not being fair. Or put another way….BUCKLE UP AND SHUT UP.
Therein lies the problem, logic classes at St. Thomas-if you had attended SJU the answer would be clear.
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In case you didn’t know, the mandatory seat belt law that was just enacted was due in large part to a mother of a teenage girl who has been on a personal crusade to make sure her tragedy does not happen to another family. Her teenage daughter was unbelted in the BACKSEAT of a vehicle that was rear ended and she was ejected through the back window and killed. I know you all think that this mostly has to do with the driver, but it does not. It was mostly put into place to make it the responsibility of the driver to make sure everyone ELSE is buckled up. If you look at the law, it clearly states ALL passengers will be buckled up or the driver gets fined. I personally agree with this law. Thusly I believe that motorcycle helmut law is a separate issue. In a way, it kinda sounds like sour grapes…”why don’t they have to and I do”. I believe its comparing apples to oranges and thereby nullifying the St Thomas equation. I agree with you on most things Mike, but when you said the belt is a bit uncomfortable it reminded me a little of an interview I saw with a teenage girl who said she won’t use her belt because it interferes with her putting on make up, talking to others in the car, eating, listening to music, and I forgot the other 2 things she listed(this as a passenger, not the driver). The officer interviewed next pointed out how uncomfortable she will be strapped into a wheelchair the rest of her life if she gets in an accident. I do however get the point about personal freedoms but in the case of this law, its more about protecting others as much as yourself which is why I support it. Would be glad to debate the helmut law separately though.
Just for clarification…where I said “I know you all think that this mostly has to do with the driver, but it does not”…I meant the LAW is not just about the driver.
Too many folks seem to think that driving, be it a car, truck or motorcycle, is a right, and they forget that it is a privilege extended to persons who demonstrate the safe ability to drive and who abide by the rules of the road.
People who drive without seat belts or helmets cause financial losses for everyone, as we know they are much more likely to get seriously hurt in an accident. We all pay dearly for their freedom of choice.
On the plus side, helmet-less riders often end up making good organ donors.
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