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When mandatory helmet proponents talk about helmet safety and laws, they want to only talk about the number of deaths, not the number of deaths compared to the number of accidents. So when a state passes a mandatory helmet law, the numbers of deaths drop because so many people give up riding motorcycles because of the helmets, hence less accidents occur with fewer bikes on the road. Then the mandatory helmet proponents claim that "helmet laws work"! Likewise, when a state repeals a helmet law, many more riders are on the road enjoying their bikes, and naturally with more riders there are more accidents and deaths. But that doesn't mean that the repeal of the law made motorcycling more dangerous.
There is always a certain amount of risk, whether you wear a helmet or not. The best thing you can do as a rider is get training and be a defensive rider. The public should be educated to watch for motorcycles. Those two things actually make a difference in safety!
Helmet wearing should be a choice, not a government mandate. Each person needs to decide for themselves what they want to do, as a responsible, informed adult.
This in-depth article from Warren Woodward examines the helmet statistic safety myth in depth in several states that have enacted mandatory helmet laws or repealed them. I am looking for up-to-date statistics for the South East if anyone has a source for them.
"If helmets have significant safety benefits, then the ratio of deaths to accidents should decline as the use of helmets increases, such as after a mandatory helmet law is enacted. Yet in most states the Death to Accident Ratio (DAR) averages between 2% to 3% both before and after helmet laws have been enacted." Here are statistics from Maryland, before and after their mandatory helmet law:
The ratio of deaths to accidents actually went up after the helmet law was passed. This is typical of most states
Read the full report for more info.
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