August 16, 2011

Last month, Bill Gossard, from the National Transportation Safety Board’s Safety Advocacy Division, met with Phillip Jeffery, Deputy Director of Strategy, Michigan’s Office of the Governor. The purpose: to discuss the NTSB’s recommendations on universal motorcycle helmet laws which include the 2007 recommendation that all persons aboard a motorcycle wear a DOT compliant helmet. 

Currently, Michigan requires all motorcyclists, including passengers, to wear a helmet.  “However, the law does not mandate that the helmet meet the most current version of the applicable Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard, FMVSS 218,” Gossard said.  “Also, as in previous years, there is an active effort to weaken Michigan’s law by applying it only to younger riders or those without sufficient insurance.”

During the meeting, Gossard presented the latest factual information from a number of recent studies on motorcycle safety.  This information included data showing the increase in deaths and injuries experienced by Connecticut and Pennsylvania after those States made changes similar to those being considered in Michigan.  Other studies highlighted by Gossard focused on refuting the perception that helmets cause cervical spine injuries as well as  a comparison of performance by noncompliant (or novelty) helmets versus DOT-compliant helmets in crashes.  

Because head injury is a leading cause of death for motorcycle riders, and universal helmet laws are the only extensively researched measure for improving safety, three safety recommendations issued by NTSB ask States to enact or strengthen helmet laws.  Gossard noted, “several Michigan advocacy groups support the NTSB’s safety recommendation, including SMARTER USA (a pro-helmet law rider organization, AAA Michigan, and the Insurance Institute of Michigan.”

Michigan’s Senate has passed the concerning legislation, but House action on the Bill is not anticipated until the fall.