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‘Drive Safely’ markers are placed on the roadside where fatal crashes occur in Florida.

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

MELBOURNE—Motorcycle fatalities involving riders without helmets have soared in the nearly six years since Gov. Jeb Bush repealed the state’s mandatory helmet law, a newspaper reports.

A ‘Florida Today’ analysis of federal motorcycle crash statistics found “unhelmeted” deaths in Florida rose from 22 deaths in 1998 and 1999, the years before the helmet law repeal, to 250 deaths in 2004, the most recent data available.





By comparison, Florida logged 270 deaths of riders without helmets during the 1990s, when riding without a helmet was illegal, according to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports.

Total motorcycle deaths in the state have increased 67 percent from 259 in 2000 to 432 in 2004, statistics show.

Records also show a corresponding rise in the popularity of motorcycles in the Sunshine State. Motorcycle registrations have increased 87 percent in Florida since Bush signed the helmet law repeal on July 1, 2000.

The debate over motorcycle helmet safety resurfaced last week when Pittsburgh Steelers Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, an advocate of helmet-free riding, broke his jaw, nose and several teeth in an accident. He underwent seven hours of surgery.

Roethlisberger is being cited in the crash. (Read that story here.)

Merritt Island motorcyclist and helmet law opponent Dave Carroll said the helmet law debate is misguided.

“The media spent way too much time harping on the helmet issue and not enough on the cause of the accident,” Carroll said. “What causes most of the crashes is cars. Usually, it’s the car driver turning left at an intersection and causing an accident because they didn’t see us coming.”

Physicians and insurance companies say helmets are crucial safety gear.

“We used to call (helmetless riders) ‘organ donors,’ because they break their head and not their body,” said Dr. David Harbour, who works in the emergency room at Wuesthoff Medical Center in Rockledge. “You can actually fix a broken bone. But if you hit your head and hurt your brain, there’s little we can do to fix that.”

‘Florida Today’ is published on the Space Coast.

So, what do you think?


Send Us Your Comments

Posted by B Lewis, Valrico, Fl on 06/19 at 12:45 PM

If you have 60,000 people killed in car accidents, do we ban cars? More people are killed riding bikes and walking then riding motorcycles. Do we make that against the law also? Big brother is telling everyone what they have to do. Don’t eat MacDonalds, Kentucky Fried Chicken, wear seatbelts, wear helments, etc. What ever happened to a persons freedom of choice. Okay, let the insurance companies charge more for these people. If you want to play then you have to pay. But, you have the choice.



Posted by Brian Voltaire, Tampa on 06/19 at 12:44 PM

So don’t wear a helmet, just make sure you do the job right when you smash your head into the pavement so our taxes don’t end up being wasted while we take care of the vegetable that you have left behind when you don’t kill yourself, there are much easier ways of committing suicide.



Posted by DENNIS OTT, LAKELAND FL on 06/19 at 12:35 PM

I THINK IT IS CHILDISH AND VERY DUMB TO RIDE A MOTOTCYCLE WITHOUT A HELMET! A HELMET WILL AT LEAST MINIMIZE THE HEAD INJURIES WHICH IS THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF A PERSON IS THEIR BRAIN WHICH GIVES THEM THEIR PERSONALITY AND THOUGHT ON HOW THINGS SHOULD BE! I STRONGLY FEEL THAT HELMETS SHOULD!! BE WORN!



Posted by Mike White, on 06/19 at 12:29 PM

...and here they go again - those you think they know what’s best for others. And I’ll guess that you don’t ride a motorcycle, Laurie (please correct me if I’m wrong).

You don’t get to decide what I do.
Motorcycle helmets, car seatbelts, smoking, and the like are individual choices. If you’re pro-helmet, by all means, wear one. If you want to put a helmet on somebody else’s head, find something else to do.



Posted by Russell T. Kelly, Tarpon Springs, FL on 06/19 at 12:27 PM

I am confused. Exactly why do we have a seat belt law but no helmet law? This is fuzzy math at best. I guess some people have brains that are just not worth it.



Posted by Diego McFly, Tampa, FL on 06/19 at 12:27 PM

Quote:
“Total motorcycle deaths in the state have increased 67 percent from 259 in 2000 to 432 in 2004, statistics show.”

Quote:
“Motorcycle registrations have increased 87 percent in Florida since Bush signed the helmet law repeal on July 1, 2000.”

If deaths have increased 67%, but the total riders has increased by 87% ... then we in fact have had SIGNIFICANTLY FEWER fatalities overall based on percentage.

Sounds like media sensationalism once again. Folks ... just disregard this article. It is entertainment ... not news reporting.

**(PS - I’m not saying I’m a fan of no helmets. But the idiots riding can die for all I care, not my or gov’t business).



Posted by Duane Davis, Sarasota on 06/19 at 12:22 PM

When Florida repealed the helmet law, it also required cyclists to carry a $10,000 in hospitalization insurace. What a joke. One day in a hospital with a serious head trauma would eat up your entire coverage. After that, if you don’t have hospitalization at work, the bill is on the taxpayers. And even if you do, the carriers just raise the rest of our premiums to cover the cost of cyclists stupidity. The irony to all of this is, if your laying on a bed like a zuchinni for 3 years and a loved one wants to pull the plug, Bush and his Republiccan cronies will fight you in order to keep those medical bills coming in.



Posted by El Hatton, Brandon on 06/19 at 12:01 PM

Like motorcyclists are the only ones engaging in the risky behavior that costs us all money in the long run.



Posted by Robert Sterling, St. Petersburg on 06/19 at 12:01 PM

The safest way to ride a motorcycle is with the helmet backwards, obscuring the rider’s vision, while juggling chain saws. There’s never been a recorded case of a fatality riding this way.

Statistics can support any position, but let’s look at the ones presented here:

The most meaningful stats presented are the increase in fatalities since the repeal of the helmet laws, and the increase in total registrations. Fatalities increased 67%; registrations by 87%.

That means, since the repeal of the mandatory helmet laws, per capita fatalities among registered motorcycle operators actually decreased significantly. If there’s a corollary in these statistics, it would be that repealing the helmet laws reduced fatalities.

I don’t believe there’s any such cause-and-effect relationship, any more than I believe that helmets save lives.

Education, awareness and responsible riding save lives. Without those, helmets merely mean the difference between a closed-casket or open-casket funeral.



Posted by Ted Whitaker, Riverview on 06/19 at 11:58 AM

Mr. Carroll’s argument deals with what causes the crash, not the safety issue of what happens after the crash. A child could figure out that bouncing, unprotected heads are at risk.

How is this issue different than seat belts? They protect the occupants of the car, not the occupants of the other crash vehicle.



Posted by Bob Wire, Lutz on 06/19 at 11:51 AM

Let these idiots thin the population by ignoring simple common sense. Cars have air bags and steel frames to protect the occupants while motorcycles offer zero physical protection. The only protection on a bike is a helmet and the skill and experience of the driver. As a longtime rider of 20 years I am wise enough to protect the one part of my body which can not been replaced.



Posted by Diego McFly, Tampa, FL on 06/19 at 11:44 AM

Quote:
“Total motorcycle deaths in the state have increased 67 percent from 259 in 2000 to 432 in 2004, statistics show.”

Quote:
“Motorcycle registrations have increased 87 percent in Florida since Bush signed the helmet law repeal on July 1, 2000.”

If deaths have increased 67%, but the total riders has increased by 87% ... then we in fact have had SIGNIFICANTLY FEWER fatalities overall based on percentage.

Sounds like media sensationalism once again. Folks ... just disregard this article. It is entertainment ... not news reporting.

**(PS - I’m not saying I’m a fan of no helmets. But the idiots riding can die for all I care, not my or gov’t business).



Posted by K Balliette, Lakeland on 06/19 at 11:44 AM

I think it is none of anyone’s business whether I where a helmet or not.(I Do). If we are going to write laws protecting people from themselves I’d like to propose we install weight scales at the entrance of all fast-food restaurants and anyone overweight should be denied service for their own good.



Posted by Laurie Griffith, Tampa Bay on 06/19 at 11:38 AM

Wonderful to not use a helmet if you can ensure you’ll not have an accident. It’s not just a matter of you hurting yourself; you’re affecting hospital costs for everyone. Same as laws involving smokers. If you insist on not wearing a helmet, you should not only pay the extra insurance required, but you should also pay some sort of extra tax to help cover the E/R expenses, because we ALL know not everyone who rides without a helmet has the proper insurance coverage. Why should your decision cost me money???

 

I never wear a helmet. Unless I'm doing something dangerous. : )

I used to get trash talked to me for riding my trek without a helmet - I can't imagine what people would think of me on a motorcycle without ppe......

http://www.emailthis.clickability.co...oID=1971616865

 

Posted by B Lewis, Valrico, Fl on 06/19 at 12:45 PM

If you have 60,000 people killed in car accidents, do we ban cars? More people are killed riding bikes and walking then riding motorcycles. Do we make that against the law also? Big brother is telling everyone what they have to do. Don’t eat MacDonalds, Kentucky Fried Chicken, wear seatbelts, wear helments, etc. What ever happened to a persons freedom of choice. Okay, let the insurance companies charge more for these people. If you want to play then you have to pay. But, you have the choice.

True but I hate to see people riding motorcycles not wearing a helmet. MianoSM, the choice is yours but I hate to break it to you but every time you get on a motorcycle it's dangerous. I look at motorcycles as death machines but it's the next best thing to sex. To me it doenst matter if I am going 2 miles or 100 miles, I wear my helmet. Cruising the beach is one thing without a helmet but on major roads I can't help but to have no respect for people who don't wear gear. Like I stated before, the choice is yours.

 

as i was reading this, the story came on Bay News 9. wierd.

 

So 67% more deaths and 87% more bikes on the road? I don't have a math major, but that sounds like a decline to me.

 

I could care less what everyone else does. To me its survival of the fittest. If you're too stupid to put on your seat belt when you get in your car or put on your helmet and gear when you ride then the human race is better off without you.

 

i looked at 2004 numbers.

Non helmeted riders - 22 deaths in 1998 and 1999 (let's say 11 per year on average)

Total deaths - 259 in 2000, of which we'll take away 11 for the Non helmeted riders. that equals 248 helmeted deaths. [this is using different year numbers]

Non helmeted riders - 250 deaths in 2004

Total motorcycle deaths - 432 in 2004.
__________________________________

That means: Helmeted riders - 182 deaths in 2004.

so helmeted riders are dying less, and a WHOLE lot more Non helmeted riders are dying now. i'm totally for a helmet law.

 

first off yes this article makes no sense with such an increase in riders. obviously attributed to raising gas prices, as we are more likely to see more and more riders out there.
For me riding without a helmet is not an option, but i believe it should be up to the person whether they want to or not.
Furthermore im tired of hearing this shit "ive been riding for 30 years blah blah blah" and then they state stupid facts. Riding with a helmet does not obstruct my vision one bit where do these people get this info from have they tried on a helmet? or just a cardboard box with holes cut out for your eyes

 

I've heard so much about this crap i don't even care anymore...


i love how the first person says he hopes they die so it won't cost us money to keep them alive and the 2nd person says helments are good because they will help keep you alive so that you cost us all lots of tax money.


i think both those replys, back to back show how stupid both side of this can be.

if you head hits the ground it will be better if you have a helmet on it... but I'm sure someone will disagree with that too.

 

Wearing a helmet to me is like putting on my seatbelt when I jump in a car. It's kinda a sense of safety you get. My friends dad has had many a crashes from people pulling out in front of him and his helmet always came out scraped to hell. One time he put a huge dent striaght in the side of a car door from his helmet slamming into it.