Sheriff still urges caution
By Seth Stapleton
Tribune Staff Writer
A motorcycle activist group recently unveiled statistics that suggest the
amending of Michigan’s helmet law earlier this year to allow rider choice in
wearing a helmet has not resulted in an increase in motorcycle
fatalities.
“We at American Bikers Aiming Toward Education, or ABATE
Michigan are concerned with motorcycle safety so we have been monitoring the
effect of this helmet law modification to see what impact it has made,” said
Vince Consiglio, president of ABATE Michigan. “We used the Michigan State
Police/Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning data which compares motorcycle
data between Jan. 1 and Aug. 31 for the last two years and the numbers speak for
themselves.”
The group released a statement showing that from 2011
(pre-amendment) to 2012 (post-amendment), fatalities dropped from 89 to 85 — a
4.5 percent reduction. Adjusting the data to show fatalities as a percentage of
motorcyclists involved shows a decrease from 3.24 percent to 3.05 percent, which
is a 5.8 percent reduction.
During the same time period, the number of
motorcycle registrations increased from 261,658 to 266,589. If the fatality rate
is adjusted to the total of motorcycle registrations, it shows that the fatality
rate has decreased from 0.034 percent to 0.0318 percent since the helmet-law
amendment — a 7 percent reduction.
“I expected to see an increase in motorcycle-related fatalities because of the change,” Hanson said. “I have policed several motorcycle accidents over the years and have seen first hand that a helmet can save a person’s life.”
Hanson noted that Huron County has not had a roadway motorcycle fatality since 2010. The county has one roadway fatality this year compared to two at the same time last year.
On April 12, the requirement for motorcycle helmets was amended to allow adult choice for motorcyclists 21 and older, providing they completed an accredited motorcycle-safety course or had a minimum of two years riding experience.
“This data proves conclusively that the helmet-law amendment had no adverse effect on motorcycle safety,” Consiglio claimed. “What does matter is car driver/motorcyclists awareness and motorcycle education, which we have advocated for and provided to residents of Michigan for more than two decades.
“A motorcyclist has a responsibility to know how to handle his or her bike,” Consiglio added. “However, a motorcyclist is much more vulnerable than a passenger vehicle occupant in the event of a crash.”
Hanson agreed: “Motorcyclists need to be very aware of the other motorists on the road because sometimes they are just not seen. They need to be extra cautious.”