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Why Modify Michigan's
Mandatory Helmet Law for Adult Choice?
ABATE's
position supporting ADULT CHOICE for
Michigan's mandatory motorcycle helmet law DOES NOT seek
to eliminate the use of motorcycle helmets. Although
ABATE questions the MANDATORY nature of a law that
forces the usage of self-protection equipment with
questionable benefits, it is the use of DOCTORED
statistics, the misrepresentation of facts, and outright
lies used by the safety-crats to support their position
which is especially bothersome.
It is easy to see that the incidence of injuries is
directly related to the incidence of accidents. The
fact of the matter, though, is that the incidence of
accidents and, thus, the incidence of injuries along
with the fatality rate, (fatalities per 100 accidents),
has been steadily DECREASING since the mid-80's, even
with THIRTY-ONE (31) states allowing choice. This is
CONTRARY to what people are led to believe by these same
so-called safety experts according to the NHTSA. This
can be easily verified.
The real question is "What can reasonably be done to
curb the motorcycle accident rate even further"?
Helmets do not prevent accidents, they haven't reduced
fatalities, nor do they do they make for a SAFER
motorcycle rider. Helmets MAY reduce
some types of injuries OR they may INTENSIFY
the severity of injuries. The crash helmet's
effectiveness is totally dependent upon the particular
circumstances of the accident over which a helmet has no
control.
An experienced, educated motorcycle rider knows that
their ability to ride their motorcycle in a safe and
alert manner will do more to determine the probability
of their involvement in an accident than all the
?safety? equipment that they could possibly carry.
Therefore, the solution to reduce the motorcycle
accident rate and more importantly, the fatality rate,
is to initiate comprehensive education and awareness
programs for BOTH the motorcycle rider and the car
driver, PERIOD!
The reason for the nationwide furor against MANDATORY
motorcycle helmet laws, however, arises not so much from
a concern for public safety, but as a concern for an
individual's right to self-determination. The success
of our CONSTITUTIONALLY LIMITED REPUBLICAN form of
government is in many ways dependent upon the ability of
our citizens to develop into mature, responsible
individuals. And, the very essence of maturity exists
in the process of self-determination.
For a government to pass regulations designed to protect
individuals from themselves, it assumes that it is
necessary to do so. How is it possible for a government
to make such an assumption and still have It's people
believe that they govern themselves?
The information in this paper is provided to counter the
misrepresentations of the pro helmet law crowd with
clear, rational, objective responses to their emotional
rhetoric. With thirty-one states allowing adult choice
for riders 21 years and older, the info provided PROVES
that neither fatality rates nor accident rates increase
with adult choice. There is not one state in the
Union that has increased it's insurance
rates with the modification of their mandatory helmet
law to allow adult choice. Conversely, there is not one
state that has DECREASED their insurance rates with the
passing of a mandatory helmet law. Case closed!
Finally, from Motorcycles Fatal Accident Reporting
System (FARS), as far back as 1977 comes the statement,
"there is no significant difference in the fatality
rates of states requiring and not requiring the wearing
of a motorcycle helmet."
The truth will make Michigan
FREE!
Jim Rhoades Legislative Director
ABATE of
Michigan
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A.B.A.T.E. Of Michigan
Inc.
P.O. Box 309 Milford, MI. 48381-0309 |
