SOUTH CAROLINA - HELMETS...

OFF THE WIRE

http://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/2012/06/16/2888899/cdcs-finding-doesnt-sway-some.html
CDC’s finding doesn’t sway some on motorcycle helmet regulation

 By Mike Stobbe - The Associated Press
Fewer motorcyclists die in states that require helmets, and the costs to society are lower, too, according to a new federal study released Thursday, but that information doesn’t sway some area residents who favor a motorcyclist’s right to choose and oppose any type of no-helmet law. The study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta found that about five times as many no-helmet biker deaths occur in states with less restrictive laws, but Bill Barber, manager of SBB bar in Murrells Inlet, said he still wants the freedom to not wear a helmet and believes the majority of bikers feel the same way. While Rebecca Naumann, an epidemiologist and the study’s lead author, maintains that helmet laws save lives, Barber said there are more dangerous things to worry about than riding without a helmet.
Biker George Hummel, of Delaware, OH, wears a unique bike helmet as look over the bikes at Barefoot Landing in North Myrtle Beach Tuesday during the Myrtle Beach Bike Week Spring Rally & Ride which runs through Sunday.


Poll of the day | Should motorcycle riders be required to wear a helmet? http://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/2012/06/16/2890901/poll-of-the-day-should-motorcycle.html

Helmet law getting a new look in next legislative session

Helmet law getting a new look in next legislative session Those who rejoiced in thinking the motorcycle helmet issue was over should steer clear of S.C. Sen. Ralph Anderson, D-Greenville. “I’m a firm believer of not telling people how to live their lives,” Barber said. “If I die, I’ll die doing what I wanted to do. I like the freedom to make my own choice.” Cindy Fine, general manager at Myrtle Beach Harley-Davidson on South Kings Highway, said riders should be able to make that decision themselves, but that doesn’t mean they don’t care about safety. “I think one of the key things is awareness, especially in traffic, and I’m a huge advocate of motorcycle safety and taking a safety course,” Fine said. “Even if you’ve been riding for 20 years, everyone could learn something from it. It teaches you to be a defensive motorcycle driver and gives you the education to make a well-informed decision.” CDC researchers looked at a government tally of fatal traffic crashes. They focused on 2008 through 2010 and counted 14,283 deaths of motorcyclists. That included 6,057 bikers with no helmet. Only about 12 percent of those deaths occurred in the 20 states that required everyone on motorbikes to wear helmets. The researchers also made 2010 cost calculations based on medical expenses and lost work productivity from motorcycle deaths and injuries. “In 2010, more than $3 billion in economic costs were saved due to helmet use in the United States,” CDC Director Dr. Thomas Frieden said in a statement. “Another $1.4 billion could have been saved if all motorcyclists had worn helmets.” In states that mandate helmets, more is saved per registered bike than in states with fewer or no restrictions, $725 versus $200, researchers estimated. When the study was done, three states – Illinois, Iowa and New Hampshire – had no helmet law and another 27 only required helmets for teenagers or certain other riders. Twenty states had universal motorcycle helmet laws, but Michigan changed its law this year. Now riders older than 21 can ride without a helmet if they meet certain requirements, including carrying an additional $20,000 in medical insurance. Motorcycle enthusiasts have argued that they should have the freedom to wear a helmet or not. They also say crashes involving motorcycles are just a small percentage of motor vehicle accidents. According to the CDC, motorcycles account for about 3 percent of the registered vehicles on the road. But about 14 percent of the people who die in traffic accidents are motorcyclists. Also Thursday, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration urged motorcyclists not to wear the 5X5 brand, SA-08 model motorcycle helmet. Under federal testing, the helmets failed to meet penetration protection requirements.


Each day I find these articles professing that helmets save lives... and at the same time I'm reading articles about riders who died with helmets on! Safety, Education and Awareness will save lives more than any helmet ever will! And instead of attempting to educate the public about motorcycles they set up Checkpoints instead!

I know studies are slanted and they fudge the statistics to give them the outcome they're looking for... because if they ever saw all the accidents I post where the helmet came off, just didn't save the rider's life, or broke, or whatever.... the numbers would be different... they just look at with a helmet, without a helmet, if even that... think they exclude when a helmet comes off!
 
http://www.inquisitr.com/257114/proven-motorcycle-helmet-laws-do-prevent-death-reduce-medical-related-expenses/

Proven: Motorcycle Helmet Laws Do Prevent Death, Reduce Medical Related Expenses Posted: June 17, 2012
Driving a motorcycle without a helmet puts you at a higher risk of being injured and ultimately death. Researchers at the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention studied a government tally of fatal traffic accidents to determine the safety potential of wearing a motorcycle helmet.
According to the study five times as many no-helmet biker deaths occur in states with less restrictive bike helmet laws.
Lead researchers Rebecca Naumann, an epidemiologist and the study’s lead author studied 14,283 motorcycle deaths from 2008 through 2010 and found that 6, 057 bikes were not wearing a helmet while only 12 percent of those deaths occurred in states where everyone riding a motorcycle are required to wear helmets.
The study then examined costs associated with motorcycle helmet laws vs. states with no such requirements. According to CDC Director Dr. Thomas Frieden:
“In 2010, more than $3 billion in economic costs were saved due to helmet use in the United States. Another $1.4 billion could have been saved if all motorcyclist had worn helmets.”
States with mandatory helmet laws saw an expense of just $200 per accident compared to $725 in states without helmets. The study found that three states, Illinois, Iowa and New Hampshire had no helmet laws while 27 only states only had laws for teenagers and certain other “at risk” bike riders.
In Michigan riders 21 and older are no longer required to wear a motorcycle helmet but only if they carry an additional $20,000 in medical insurance.
In a scary statistic the CDC says motorcycle accidents account for only 3 percent of registered vehicle accidents but nearly 14 percent of vehicle related deaths.
If you do where a motorcycle helmet and its the 5X5 brand, SA-08 model you’ll want to return it after a Federally announced recall last week.