Written by WebAdmin on August 25, 2015. For more than 30 years, the debate over whether or not helmets should be mandatory for all has raged in the biker community and throughout various legislatures. Supporters of helmet laws believe mandatory use of helmets can reduce brain injuries and fatalities among bikers. Critics of helmet laws, however, believe wearing helmets cannot prevent death and can actually cause spine and neck injuries in minor crashes. Beyond the medical effects, the helmet debate has hinged on whether or not it is constitutional and in line with personal liberties for any arm of government to force individuals to wear protective gear. This article is presented as a service to the biking community by Action Donation Services who handles the tax deductible donations of motorcycles and other property such as cars, boats, motorhomes, and trucks for some of America’s finest charities: Some bikers stage protest rides and rallies crusading for the repeal of helmet laws.

Such demonstrations are anchored on the belief that laws forcing the use of helmets are an expression of a nanny-like government overly involving itself in personal choices of bikers and forcing those bikers to take care of themselves in the way the government feels is best. Other cyclists embrace helmet laws and educate peers on the most effective helmets because they believe motorcyclists should participate in smart safety strategies. According to the National Center for Statistics and Analysis, helmets proved 65 percent effective in guarding against brain injuries. In preventing fatalities, the center found helmets to be 35 percent effective. Some biker groups theorize that data in favor of helmets have been manipulated. Illinois, Colorado, and Iowa do not require motorcyclists to wear helmets. Alaska, Florida, Oklahoma, and 24 other states require minors to wear helmets when on motorbikes. Only 20 states—among them Alabama, California, Louisiana, and New York—universally mandate helmets for every person no matter the age.

Helmet critics in Louisiana have frequently challenged the state’s universal helmet requirement as unconstitutional. It was repealed in 1976 and again in 1999 but was reestablished again in 2004. From coast to coast, associations, brotherhoods, and riding clubs exist to provide not only camaraderie but also support for biker rights. Most of these organizations have online websites where bikers can stay abreast of events, cruises, legal defense, and proper training.Ann Surg. 2009 Sep;250(3):390-4. doi: 10.1097/SLA.0b013e3181b365a2.Croce MA1, Zarzaur BL, Magnotti LJ, Fabian TC.Author information1Department of Surgery; University of Tennessee Health Science Center; mcroce@utmem.eduAbstractOBJECTIVE: To analyze a large national database, the National Trauma Data Bank, regarding the contribution of motorcycle helmet use to outcome and the efficacy of state helmet laws.BACKGROUND DATA: Motorcycle helmet laws remain controversial, and advocacy groups continue their lobbying efforts to rescind or weaken existing laws.

One argument is that helmets contribute to severe injuries and are not associated with survival.METHODS: The National Trauma Data Bank identified motorcycle crash patients from 2002 to 2007. Data collected included demographics, markers of injury severity, resource utilization, and outcome.thruxton motorcycle jacketRESULTS: Over 2.3 million patients were entered into the National Trauma Data Bank. good motorbike mechanic melbourneA total of 76,944 were in motorcycle collisions and had helmet use documented. buy motorcycle helmets edmontonMean age, admission Glasgow Coma Scale score, and Injury Severity Score were 36 years, 13.7, and 13.5, respectively. Of the patients 76% wore helmets, and had lower Glasgow coma scale, injury severity score, head abbreviated injury scale, resource utilization, and mortality than unhelmeted patients.

There were more uninsured patients who did not wear helmets. Logistic regression analysis indicated that helmet use has a strong protective effect on in-hospital mortality. Helmet use could save approximately $32.5 million by reducing ICU stay.CONCLUSIONS: Unhelmeted motorcycle crash patients suffer more severe brain injuries, consume more resources, and have the worst payor mix. Society bears a large financial burden for these uninsured unhelmeted patients. There is a survival advantage for helmeted patients. All states should have universal motorcycle helmet laws that are aggressively enforced.PMID: 19730173 DOI: 10.1097/SLA.0b013e3181b365a2 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] MeSH TermsAccidents, Traffic/legislation & jurisprudence*Accidents, Traffic/mortalityAccidents, Traffic/statistics & numerical data*AdultChi-Square DistributionCraniocerebral Trauma/mortality*FemaleGlasgow Coma ScaleHead Protective Devices/utilization*Hospital MortalityHumansInjury Severity ScoreLogistic ModelsMaleMotorcycles/legislation & jurisprudence*RegistriesUnited States/epidemiologyFull Text SourcesLippincott Williams & WilkinsClinicalKeyOvid Technologies, Inc.Other Literature SourcesCOS Scholar UniverseMedicalHead Injuries - MedlinePlus Health Information

The IP address used for your Internet connection is part of a subnet that has been blocked from access to PubMed Central. Addresses across the entire subnet were used to download content in bulk, in violation of the terms of the PMC Copyright Notice. Use of PMC is free, but must comply with the terms of the Copyright Notice on the PMC site. For additional information, or to request that your IP address be unblocked, For requests to be unblocked, you must include all of the information in the box above in your message.The politician behind Michigan's controversial repeal of a mandatory helmet law was killed in a motorcycle crash Monday night. State Representative Peter Pettalia was killed when a pickup truck veered into his lane on the highway, the Detroit News reports. According to local police, Pettalia was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash. Michigan is better because of the service of Rep Peter Pettalia. — Lt Gov Brian Calley (@briancalley) September 13, 2016

Police told reporters that Pettalia, 61, was on his motorcycle when the "truck driven by a 59-year-old woman from Fairview" turned directly into his lane. "His motorcycle struck the pickup truck broadside," police said in a statement Monday. "Pettalia was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash." The driver of the truck was not injured during the collision. — Jonathan Oosting (@jonathanoosting) September 13, 2016 In a statement to reporters Monday, Gov. Rick Snyder announced that all flags would be lowered in tribute to Pettalia. "Sue and I were heartbroken to hear of the death of Representative Pettalia and send condolences on behalf of the entire state to his family, colleagues, and friends," Snyder said. "Peter's wife, Karen, their children and grandchildren are in our thoughts and prayers especially as they deal with this tragedy."According to a regional study cited by Michigan Radio, the number of motorcycle fatalities in the state jumped by 23 percent between 2014 and 2015. R