Helmet Law Repeal Will Result in More Traffic Fatalities and Insurance Costs, AAA Reports

Total bill: $129 million in added economic costs to Michigan citizens

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Mar 23, 2010, 04:23 ET

DEARBORN, Mich., March 23 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- AAA Michigan strongly opposes legislation that will be considered by the House Committee on Regulatory Reform in Lansing tomorrow which would allow motorcyclists to ride without a helmet on the state's roadways. The legislation will increase motorcycle fatalities and injuries and would increase costs for all motorists, AAA Michigan reports.

Every year, challengers of Michigan's mandatory motorcycle helmet law try to get the law repealed without regard for the common good. A 2005 AAA study found nearly 90 percent of AAA Michigan members opposed a repeal of the state's mandatory motorcycle helmet law, which has served Michigan well for more than 36 years.

A repeal of the motorcycle helmet law will result in at least 30 additional motorcycle fatalities each year, along with 127 more incapacitating injuries and $129 million in added economic costs to Michigan citizens. This is based on the experience of other states where similar measures have been enacted.

As evidenced by increased medical costs passed on to taxpayers, motorcycle deaths and long-term catastrophic injuries are on the rise.

Motorcycle crashes account for a disproportionate share of money paid out of the Michigan Catastrophic Claims Association (MCCA), a fund which is supported by a surcharge on every auto insurance policy in Michigan. Although motorcyclists represent 1.9 percent of the assessments paid into the MCCA, they account for 5 percent of all money paid out and 7 percent of all claims reported. Since its inception in 1978, MCCA has reimbursed member insurers more than $321 million for 712 motorcycle injury claims exceeding the threshold.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in 2007, 5,154 motorcyclists were killed – a 7 percent increase over the 4,837 motorcyclists killed in 2006. In Michigan, 127 motorcyclists were killed and another 3,462 were injured in motorcycle crashes in 2008. The number of motorcycle crashes in the state rose from 3,723 in 2007 to 3,969 in 2008.

NHTSA estimates that helmets saved 1,784 motorcyclists' lives in 2007, and that 800 more could have been saved if all motorcyclists had worn helmets.

AAA Michigan urges legislators to keep Michigan's mandatory motorcycle helmet law, and encourages residents to contact their local legislators on this important issue. To contact your local legislator, go to:

www.legislature.mi.gov.

SOURCE AAA Michigan