You can now ride HELMET FREE in Michigan!!

Very cool...
Score one for us two-wheelers...

I'll still wear a helmet in town and around high traffic areas, but at least now I can ride out in the country w/o a lid. This has been a long hard fought battle in Michigan...now we'll just have to see how much the insurance pops us for coverage.


p.s. The question no one seems able to answer is...how will they verify the insurance requirement?? Will LEO use this as an excuse to pull over every biker they see without a helmet so they can check Lic/Reg/Ins? How else will they know if you have the "additional insurance" ?

 

Not cool at all, because now a whole lot of people are going to start riding without helmets just because they can.

I live out in the "stix" and still wouldn't even consider riding anywhere without a helmet.

Now even the full time helmet-wearers like myself are going to see our insurance rates go up too.

 

I'm sure MANY wear/wore nearly useless brain buckets (not necessarily dot approved) , so not much of a difference other than wind hair vs. Helmet hair.

Fyi I wear FULL helmet 99.9% of time except went TESTING bike changes around my subdivision.

Note my bro in law added a fake dot sticker to his cheap brain bucket. At least bought nephew a REAL dot bucket...

 

Your rates shouldn't be affected, if you choose to not carry the additional ins. I have a feeling, however, this will be an excuse for ins cost to be increased on EVERYONE driving in MI...two wheels or four.
I just got through with a long talk w/my insurance guy.. this is starting to sound like a cluster (you know whut) because no one seems ready for this..
#1)He had no idea it passed.(Not even a peep from corporate..)
#2) No insurance companies even have the $100k personal medical option available. Typically the option to include it has been for only $5-10k.
#3) Insurance proof DOES NOT show what your coverage limits are, simple that you HAVE coverage. You would have to carry around the declarations sheets they send which outlines your coverage. I doubt the insurance companies are going to start printing special proofs for MI riders..
#4) Because no insurance offers coverage for personal medical @$100k, he couldn't guess at the cost, but feels it will be very expensive (laying the ground work to justify the cost??.. maybe, maybe not..)

In any event, this is looking like just a bunch of legal rangling and if you want to play by the rules, it's gonna be $$$.....we'll see

 

Additional insurance ?
Does this mean you did not wear a helmet so for $100 extra you were thoughtful enough to prepare to be a vegetable?

 

Well first a correction.. the requirement is to carry a rider for $20k personal medical (not the $100k in the earlier versions of the bill mentioned above.) So for the extra cost added to your ins premium ...yes, it was your 'thoughtfulness' in preparation for LTC. I'm sure the additional premiums will be pretty hefty in any event.


Here's my opinion on the whole thing..
It's my choice. There is a danger factor involved EVERY time you get into ANY vehicle, car or bike. I understand all the risks and so does my family. I take every precaution I can when riding to make sure nothing happens due to my inattention or stupidity, I cannot control the drivers of CARS that do STUPID things on the road, which account for the majority of cycle accidents. I will still wear in high traffic areas, but out on wide open country roads in the daytime... HATS OFF baby..

 

I have worked in rehab for 35 years now, both in the U.K. and here in Canada. Riding a bike without a good helmet is sheer stupidity! Just because you can does not mean you should. Helmets and visors project against stones bugs etc and in the event of an accident, you don't have time to think about looking after your head........

 

So all the deer, racoons, skunks, possums, turkeys, owls and large dogs must live over here on the east side of the state. Good to know.

 

Clearly, there will be a differing of opinions amongst riders as well as the rest of the world and it's most likely we will have to agree to disagree...
to clarify..

So if some racoon, squirrel, dog, or deer takes me out in the middle of the day, while riding on an open country road (not talking tree lined scenic trip through the woods) then , personally, I feel I'm not riding with the appropriate level of attentiveness...and I should park the bike until I can do so. It's this very reason (need for attentive driving and having your head on a swivel) that keeps me from letting my wife drive a cycle... there is simply too much that happens when we ride in the car that she never notices. That is ok for driving a car, not so a bike...jmho

and yes Fitz.. they all live over there in 'Cows'n'Pigs'n'Chickens' Land 8O
around here if you stay away from the local landfill you're golden, cause that's where they hang out!! lol (kidding of course..)

 

Attentive or not, you cannot control all situations and neither can your bike.... Country, suburbs, or city. Good luck.

 

And don't forget the slippery horse poop. You'll look and be more proffesional with the helmet. (safer too ! )

 

...and that is why they are called "accidents" .. because they are beyond ANYONE'S control. I do not temp fate, I do not take stupid chances, I have no death wish.... My spiritual life (not to make this a religious thread..) puts me in a position to believe that if or when it's my time to check out, it will be my time and whether or not I'm wearing a helmet is a mute point.
That's my approach for my life.
I genuinely respect those who will wear regardless of the law or my opinion, and in no way am I attempting to change anyone's mind or sway them.
It comes down to this...
For those who ride with lids, GREAT! For those who prefer not, you now have a choice in MI. And for those riders coming from states w/o helmet laws, you can leave your helmet home, if you so desire when you come to visit us in MI. You do what's right for you...Either way, when you're around Grand Rapids/ Lamont, swing by and say hi, and let's do some riding..

 

Most of them aren't beyond ANYONES control, they're a result of poor decisions or poor observation

 

I don't think that this is a SCORE at all. I think it is a loss.
Ya sure you now have a right to not wear a helmet, big deal. If you have any brains at all you will still have a helmet on your head.
I came from a state that didn't have helmet laws and I actually had a motorcycle hit my car once. He was in a no passing zone. Anyway, the guy landed on his head and he was completely scalped. It was nasty seeing his scull and all his skin and hair on the road.
Anyway, ya yeah for freedom but at what cost?
People, wear a helmet. Trust me, it is cooler to have the skin and hair on your head.

 

I have $100,000 in medical coverage from Geico and and I only pay $27 a month for my full coverage

 

You don't live in Michigan.

 

Seriously though i believe all motorcycle riders should wear helmets, however I don't think they should be forced to make the right decision. There are too many laws that restrict a persons personal liberties. How many of our rights should we give up? If uncle Sam had his way we would not be able to do anything without the governments OK.

 

Good point fitz

 

I live in Minnesota we don't have a helmet law and I pay 5 bucks a month for ins on my xj thats a pretty cheap price to pay for freedom of choice

 

Yeah...thats right!!! I got my rights....no helmet...no seatbelt in the car...leave the rear brake fix and the braided brake lines........oohh whatever.............I suggest that the "no helmet" champions go spend some time in the ER or Brain Injury Centers.......I find it hard to believe this "it won't happen to me" mentailty still exists.......

 

It exists because people are dumb

 

I was one of those/you people that said people who don't wear helmets are idiots and always said I would wear a helmet...I was wrong.

1) I am extremely glad that it is MY choice. I hate being told what to do. I like to think that all of us on two wheels understand the freedom of just getting on your bike and going where it takes you. I don't want a checklist of rules.

2) I absolutely LOVE riding with no helmet. There is no better feeling. It's like surfing great waves without a wet suit. I personally only do it when I am running to post office or getting cigarettes and know I will be staying around 40. If I take a long drive with some high speeds (and more idiots on the road) then the helmet goes on.

Big supporter of the no helmet law. It effects no one but the one who decides not to wear it. There are even some examples of where a helmet would have killed the rider if he was wearing one (although I do believe they save way more then hurt). Here is a great example:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m0SDc2YQWFw
(it's the guy under the burning car and all of the people lifting it off of him for those of you too lazy to click like me)

So don't worry about this champion...please allow me to be dumb.

P.S - ALL of my passengers MUST wear a helmet.

 

Try telling that to the family members of people killed or injured from not wearing them

 

I believe anyone that doesn't want to wear a helmet should have that right. Let the Darwin factor weed them out.

 

Although I can completely understand the expression of freedom thing, I am way to much into self-preservation to ride without a helmet.

 

Having worked in TBI, all I can say is be absolutely sure you're prepared for the repercussions of your actions. Go visit some people who have sustained head injuries just so you really know what you're prepared to live with (or not live with).

BTW, the research clearly shows that the likelihood of sustaining a head injury or a spinal cord injury due to a motorcycle crash is drastically higher when not wearing helmets.

To not wear a helmet because once in a VERY great while freak accidents happen where helmets are detrimental makes absolutely no sense. That's like always pointing a gun at your head when you pull the trigger just in case it backfires. Sure, someone will eventually live because of it, but most people will end up with a hole in their head.

All that said, I support your right to do dumbass things, even if I think they're dumbass things to do.

 

I get that kick, but if that was truly the case then why would you ride a bike at all. There is a perfectly safe car with air bags instead. You can die wearing a helmet too and the same family members would have to hear the same bad news.

I'm not fighting for any rights lol. PA has been no helmet for a long time. I just seen a lot of post from the "non idiot" side and figured I would defend/speak or us "idiots".

 

Translation- We can create more fines and penalties and harass non helmet wearers at will.

IMHO- Just strike the damn helmet law for the books and keep out of my wallet.
I personally choose to wear a helmet

Maz

 

People who ride with out a helmet are already brain dead vegetables, there just too dumb to realize it!!!!

 

i thought we needed rules to protect people who dont understand, but to change this rule seems a bit hard to understand, for me anyway.

 

What if a second vehicle is involved, at fault or not? That driver must now live with a death hanging over them. I am inclined to believe that this would have some "effects". I say this because a friend of my wife has experienced this. The rider was entirely at fault too, carelessly entered an intersection and struck her front driver side quarter panel. Needless to say, he is no longer "of this world".

My argument is not with you personally, not actually an argument at all. I am simply bringing light to other aspects of the situation. "To each, their own" is my view of the matter. I like the Darwin theory here as well.

At any rate, I hope you all stay safe.

 

Try telling the family members of people killed or injured while wearing them that they will save your life/keep you safe.
While I will admit they increase your chances of survival, they are not the be all do all answer. I always wear a lid, but support one's right not to wear one if they choose.
I lost a family member last year to a pick-up/motorcycle accident. The impact was so severe it knocked the helmet (full faced modular) clean off his head BEFORE he hit the windshield of the truck that turned in front of him.

 

Tend to agree about personal choice but I think there is a cultural thing as well, in what you are/were used to.My generation grew up with helmet laws as a given,ride a bike,wear helmet no option so they go together for most of us.
My parents generation no helmets,and having seen what was available at the time they were probably better off without them,what the hell were they thinking with those chin cups on the strap.Most of those dont feel right about wearing a helmet but hey they dont have a choice anymore.
And then there are those I see in summer wearing a leather jacket and carrying a helmet in their hand in shorts and thongs[flip flops?] because a leather jacket is cool but pants, boots and gloves aren't ?
And then there are the Harley assless chaps guys but that is a whole other story.
I wear a helmet,fullface because it's quieter, more comfortable and even if I never come off there are always bees, beetles, rocks, rain and on one memorable occasion I was even blinded by a moth with my visor up,at 60k even if the moth hits you in one eye both of them close and fill up with tears for the next 5 minutes! big bright light, bruised eyeball and steering by memory, not fun.
I'll wear a helmet,your an adult make your own choices.Darwin rocks.

 

While I'm a big supporter of smaller government and less laws this is one that I have to disagree with because it will effect me. There is no denying that the number of crashes with severe head trauma and brain injury will now go up in Michigan. Lets say you go down hard and wind up in intensive care for 9 months. There's about a million or so dollar medical bill. Now most insurance will cover 70-80% of a hospital stay. That still leaves you with 200 to 300 thousand to cover. Now most of us will be bankrupt by a bill like this but seeing as your so injured your now on disability so you have no choice but to file bankruptcy or you just don't pay the hospital either way. Guess who those costs get passed on to? All the rest of us. Also now that your unable to work we all also must pay for your monthly disability check that will barely get you by so you'll probably be trying for food assistance and welfare money. More the rest of is pay for you.
Helmet and seatbelt laws not only save lives they save money. Motor vehicle Accidents happen but if there's a way to lesson the injuries it should be mandated you take those precautions. Now yes you could get hurt a million other ways as well but the odds are much much greater on the roadways of America than almost any where else.

 

I can't understand what th problem is with wearing a helmet, whether it's law or not, i've got a face because i wear a fullface helmet. Here's to Darwin as well.

 

This is like a sweet ol' religion or abortion debate lol. I'm loving the intelligent responses of "duh your dumb".

I gotta say well put Jeff. I can see your point on that one. I have never filed for unemployment in my life or went for welfare. Fortunately I have never been disabled either. I will agree with you on that one. Now we could go deeper and say there are bigger issues such as people abusing the system which I'm sure cost way more, but you have a valid point. I have two full throttle businesses (not referring to this bike parts hobby). I pay into unemployment, disability, multiple insurances, workmans comp, etc. My bills are thousands monthly for those things. So you're not speaking to someone that is ignorant to that fact and I fully understand your argument, agree with it, but I think we have much bigger fish to fry to get those numbers down.

I personally have set myself up not to be in that situation. If I became a vegetable tomorrow then none of you would be paying for me. If I go then my family will become rich lol.

We'll just have to agree to disagree. Some things have so many variables that everyone could have valid facts and we will never agree on it. I'm just glad it is a personal choice.

...do I mention I'm atheist? lol.

 

With this mentality we should ban mcdonalds because its bad for you. People must be stupid if they eat there. Every one is entitled to make decisions for themselves one persons decision may not be the right one for everyone but its the right one for them to say someone is stupid for doing what they believe in is stupid

 

Freedom of choice is what this great country we live in here (U.S.A.) was built upon. I cant believe here in Minnesota (land of 10,000 stupid laws) have manged to escape this one so far.
I always wear a full face helmet, although I firmly believe it should be the riders choice. We should never have someone else beliefs forced upon us. They are probably dreaming up how to tax non-helmeted riders right now! However I strongly suggest wearing a helmet, it could be the difference between an open casket or closed. Hows that for a grim reminder?

 

Are any of you abate members or is abate stupid to

 

Minnesota abate is fighting a bill right now that will make bikers wear a helmet unless they- have 300,000 dollars personal ins. coverage, buy a special colored plate denoting they can ride without helmet. Of course costing more money. They aren't taking the right away, just making you pay for it. It is a joke.

 

First... I don't think the numbers will change at all. I think those that helmetless riders in accidents that would have survived an accident, unfortunately won't survive w/o a helmet (no LTC there..) those who would have walked away will now require medical care... personally I believe it's a wash..
Now for the medical payment part..this is where it gets REALLY muddy...and boring so if you're easily bored with detail.. move on... 8O


First, Michigan is a "No-Fault" insurance state which means (for simplicity sake) it doesn't matter who causes an accident, my insurance pays for me and my stuff (vehicle repair, medical bills) your insurance pays for your stuff.
Secondly, Michigan is the only state that has unlimited lifetime medical that is built into every insurance policy, so if I get into a car accident and end up in a come, my car insurance pays for whatever my medical does not cover, and pays it for however long I need it, without limit. (As it was explained to me by my Insurance agent)
The problem arises in that motorcycles are EXEMPT for the no-fault insurance, so....if I get hit by a car while on the bike and end up in a coma, the guy who was at fault (in this case the car) his insurance will now have to pay my unlimited lifetime medical....

That's how it was explained to me in the hour long conversation with my agent yesterday.
So I don't see this effecting the medical/hopsital costs passed on to others, especially when you consider this..The National Center for Health Statistics estimates that approximately 1.16% of the total U.S. health costs can be attributed to motor vehicle accidents, while less than .001% can be attributed to all motorcycle injury treatment costs

So when someone starts saying this will drive up healthcare costs....I'm not buying it..
And I don't think there will be a massive jump in disability claims that will tax the system. If you want to complain about giving your hard earned money away... let's talk about the MILLIONS given away to by STATE AGENCIES to illegal immigrants! :evil: ...but that a whole nuther rat's nest of controversy..

 

It's easy to hit a cool million in medical bills these days though.
I worked with a guy that was in a low speed accident. Car pulled out in front of him at a 4 way intersection and he hit it going around 25mph. Bounced off the car and hit his head on the pavement. He was on a Harley helmet-less and became a vegetable. This was years ago I'm not even sure if he is still alive.

 

Mad_Bohemian.. i take it that you mean, you're glad someone somehow is going to pay "my unlimited lifetime medical...." insurance, that it's ok if you have an accident that ends up worse than if you were wearing a helmet. Coz i'm covered ?

 

Please be sure to sign up as an organ donor if you are going to ride without a helmet. For almost all riders, it isn't a question of if they go down, but when. Speed is not what causes head trauma, but rather the vertical drop. No helmet = severe, if not fatal, head trauma. You can be "cool" or safe.

I'd like to see a law passed which states that all open land-based vehicle riders who don't wear head protection are automatically considered organ donors in case they suffer head trauma while riding. This would cover jeeps, atv's motorcycles, bikes, even a golf cart.

 

Actually, most are called "accidents" by non-professionals. Professionals call them "collisions" as most aren't accidents, but rather the result of someone doing something they shouldn't have done or not giving adequate attention/focus to driving/riding. Accidents don't happen, they are made.

I am a rider and a former EMT (emergency medical technician - aka - ambulance person (Intermediate/Specialist). I do not ride without a helmet and would not let a passenger ride without one. I won't even wear an open faced helmet but rather a full-face (modular) helmet.

I had a friend who laid down his bike once. He did everything right. You'd have thought he trained to do it. He always road with full leathers and helmet. He slid on the road a ways and ended up lying in the ditch next to the road. He was stunned and shaken. Also an EMT, he was careful not to try to move until the ambulance arrived and all was controlled. He was put on a backboard, helmet removed properly, and transported to the hospital.

He suffered a few bruises and nothing more. His leathers didn't even show any sign of the slide. His helmet, however, had an area about 2 in diameter sanded off of the side of it. Had he not been wearing his helmet, he would have had exposed gray matter. Oh, and it wasn't city driving, but rather, out in the country. And you would consider it an "accident" as it was an unforseeable series of events that was the result of someone illegally riding a bicycle in the dark without any lights - this was in Germany where bicycle lights are required by law.

Best of luck to you, I wish you all the good things in life, but please sign up as an organ donor so that someone else can make use of your organs when you end up brain dead.

 

I challenge anyone who is considering riding without a helmet to take this simple test:

Go out in the street.

Start running as fast as you can (what's that gonna be, 5mph? Maybe 8mph?)

LEAP into the air and crash to the pavement. Try not to hit your head.

Let us know how that turns out for you.

 

I always find myself amused by such comments. It's like the chant in the 70's or so that you can't legislate morality.

How utterly inane.

Clearly, you buy into the line of propaganda put out by the US educational system on history without a real examination of the facts of history.

This country was founded upon the idea of enforcing the moral code of the founders upon others! The Puritans settled in Holland for some time before coming to the US and were quite welcome to practice their religion there. The problem came when the Puritans could not tolerate the beliefs of the Dutch, particularly when their children began to adopt the behaviors and beliefs of the Dutch. So they had to find a place where they could live AND enforce their own moral code in opposition to that of England and Holland (and anyone else who believed differently than they.)

Forcing the beliefs of some upon others is EXACTLY what laws are: the establishment of a moral code by which everyone in a society must abide. Morality defines what is acceptable behavior for people within a community/society. So whether it is codified as a "law" or as taboo or any such, it is still moral code "legislation". Being a part of a society ALWAYS requires the yielding of personal freedoms, the question is always the extent to which this occurs. Wearing a helmet is simply one of those items. Notice also, that the degree of depravity of a culture is directly proportional to the size of its legal code: the more laws there are, the more depraved a culture is, as laws are increasingly defined and elaborated upon as people seek more and more to get around the existing code and it has to be "fine tuned".

In this case, the law is made not to restrict your freedoms, but rather, to reduce the burden riders put upon a society when they are involved in an event involving head trauma. Such events place a burden upon the community, the family, often the legal system, and the business interests of organizations like the insurance company.

If you want to ride without one, your choice, but you danged well better sign-up as an organ donor so someone can benefit from your stupidity.

 

SecureFoam-the ONLY way to TRULY be safe !! :lol:

 

Im not that into the idea, like above posts, insurance rates will go up and possibly most pull overs just to check if your non-helmet legal

I myself will wear a helmet 1- Becuase i just blew 200+ on a new helmet ....2-becuase im only 17 and.... 3-becuase im a new rider, and i hope to see myself still wearing a helmet when i turn 21

I just dont see anything good comming from it

 

Those not wearing helmets are far more likely to incur significant medical costs, disabilities, and death benefits than those who ride with them. As the number of those riding without increases, so does the risk to the insurance companies who WILL pass that on to consumers and almost certainly include additional profit for them as well. They are in business to make money, not to protect you from your stupidity.