Michigan Stats Show Motorcycle Helmets Save Lives

Three years ago, Michigan decided to drop their mandatory helmet law.

Michigan doctors believe that was a big mistake. A recent article in the American Journal of Surgery, medical researchers examine the before and after statistics for injured motorcycle riders. The results are so powerful that physicians are asking legislators to reinstate the helmet law.

According to a Reuters article, the study examined records for patients admitted to Spectrum Health Hospital as well as state transportation records of fatalities for 7 months of April to November 2011 (before the law was lifted), and for the same months in 2012, 2013, and 2014. In a nutshell:

  • After the law was repealed, non-helmeted crash scene fatalities were higher (14% vs 68%)
  • Non-helmeted patients had higher hospital mortality (10% vs 3%)
  • Non-helmeted patients stated longer stays in the intensive care unit, and were more likely to need mechanical ventilation

We understand that helmet laws are a divisive topic among motorcyclists. But medical science continues to show that wearing a helmet saves lives, and helps to prevent the most severe injuries.

Ride safe!