Don’t Ride Without Wearing a Helmet!

Before July 1, 2000, all motorcycle riders in Florida were required by law to wear a helmet. Even though this law saved many lives, the Florida legislature and Governor Jeb Bush repealed the mandatory helmet law for anyone over the age of 21 with a minimum of $10,000 in medical insurance. With the passage of the law repealing mandatory use of helmets, motorcycle sales took off like a Harley on Route 66 and motorcycle registrations in the state increased by almost 20%.

If the purpose of this law was to increase motorcycle sales, then it has been a blazing success. However, if safety and savings lives was a consideration, then not so much.

The year following the helmet law change, Florida saw a 45.5% increase in fatalities. Even taking into account the increase of motorcycle registrations and the increase in mileage, there was still more than a 20% increase in motorcycle fatalities in just the first year. Compared to a time when wearing a helmet was required and Florida had less than 200 motorcyclist deaths per year, the new law giving motorcyclists the freedom to ride without a helmet has aggrieved our state with a 10 year rolling average of over 450 deaths per year! The same statistical trend can be seen in almost every other state that repealed their universal helmet laws. Both Texas and Arkansas saw jumps in motorcycle mortality of 20 & 30% the years following.

Proponents of the law that lets motorcyclists ride without a helmet tout the triumph of freedom and individual liberty as the justification for our state’s decision not to legislate obvious life saving measures. Moreover, the common knowledge that a helmet is often the only piece of equipment between the rider and death is often cited as the reason that “we don’t need a law for that.” But these arguments ring hollow for the widow who misses her husband or the child who can no longer play catch with his father.

The statistics that highlight the fallout from the mandatory helmet repeal were always predictable (see common sense argument above). But if promoting the safety of its citizens is one of the fundamental purposes of our government, then why did Florida change a law that saved so many lives? Perhaps the better question is not “why?” but “who?” If lobbyists representing motorcycle manufacturers pushed the change in the law for the purpose of selling more bikes and making more profits, both questions have been answered. But the best question is whether the profits are worth the cost.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a motorcycle accident and have any questions contact us now at 727-669-2828 and take advantage of our Free Consultation. PERENICH The Law Firm is a leading Tampa Bay personal injury attorney firm.