| Author | Message | ||
     Taxman |
i know this is a touchy subject with motorcyclists. some say its there right to ride without, or that helmets do more damage than they save. or whatever. i'm not here to talk about all that. michigan Senate Bill 297 was passed on march 17th and is in the House of Representatives Transportation Committee for review before they vote on it. this bill will modify the existing helmet law to state that any motorcyclists that have 2 years experience or more and are over 21 years of age will not be required to wear a helmet. also any passengers they carry will not be required to wear helmets either. they will be required to keep $10,000 in person health insurance. if i have any of these facts wrong please let me know. i talked with my insurance provider today and a few others that came to our office and they all seemed to be under the same thought umbrella. "if the helmet law is repealed motorcycle premiums will go WAY up!" motorcycle insurance can be very expensive depending on your age and your history with tickets and such. State Farm and AAA are both estimating increases in premiums anywhere from %150-200. that would change my current insurance rate from $360 per year to around $900-$1100 per year. granted the rate change is a speculation. all i ask of any michigan residents is that you think about all this, decide for yourself whats important to you. and contact your state representative and ask him to vote in the direction you want. i do not want to pay higher insurance rates so i have contacted my rep. and asked him to vote against. i'm not trying to start a war here. i just wanted to point out this aspect of the helmet law that many people may not notice until the laws have changed. i am going to do some research and see in other states that have changed there helmet laws how much ins. rates have changed, if any. | ||
| Taxman |
just so i cover both sides a little bit. found this link to information that contradicts what i posted. read up and see what you think. http://www.easyrider.com/~frankie/fact_sheet.htm | ||
| Taxman |
and here is an article with references saying the exact opposite. http://www.iihs.org/safety_facts/qanda/helmet_use.htm#1 | ||
| Uwgriz |
A review conducted in 1996 concluded that there is "no compelling evidence that rider training is associated with reductions in collisions." - Mayhew, D.R. and Simpson, H.M. 1996. Effectiveness and role of driver education and training in a graduated licensing system. Ottawa, Ontario, Canada: Traffic Injury Research Foundation For some reason I'm a little skeptical of this "study"... | ||
| Scooterroid |
Compulsory helmet law was repealed in Florida several years ago. Motorcycle insurance rates did not rise as a result. The sky did not fall. | ||
| Dsergison |
cheaper to be carried by six than opertaed on by twelve! (Message edited by dsergison on April 29, 2005) | ||
| Cataract2 |
Personally, I think there should be discounts in insurance for those of us who wear helmets. | ||
| Outrider |
Taxman...That would be discriminatory pricing. Your rates should be the same as we have in Wisconsin only adjusted for your area and driving record. Example: Insurance cost in LA vs Milwaukee. I don't know anything about your rates in MI but my rates here in WI are the same as yours for my X1 and I am with State Farm as well. Incidentally, my Harley runs about $15 more than the Buell and that is due to the cost of replacement. Of interest, I have my home, umbrella, 2 cars and 2 bikes insured with them. Perhaps I am getting a break in there somewhere. Plus, I just got married and my auto rates are going down again at age 57. Wish my medical insurance would do the same, eh? LMAO | ||
| Jlnance |
they will be required to keep $10,000 in person health insurance. i talked with my insurance provider today ... "if the helmet law is repealed motorcycle premiums will go WAY up!" Sounds to me like the insurance companies are looking for an excuse to raise rates. Given that people who aren't going to wear helmets are required to purchase extra insurance (granted 10K is riddiculously low), why would rates need to go up for other people? | ||
| Swampy |
I just saved a ton on auto insurance. I got my auto insurance renewal from the insurance company I was with for 28 years....It tripled! I went online to do the Progressive thing...and then their rate comparison......I am now with Farmers, I switched everything over, cars, bikes and home. My total insurance bill is now one third of the total I had before. As far as insurance rates going up...They never went down when we got the mandatory seatbelt laws passed. Less risk=higher premiums Higher risk=higher premiums You loose everytime As long as they have their private police force making sure you buy their insurance, and lowering their risk by wearing your seat belts and helmets and driving their speed limits they can raise your premiums to what ever they want, see what happens if you don't pay their premiums (by the way they are at a PREMIUM) or drive the way they want you to under their conditions, their private police force will come and take you away, lock up your property and force you onto the bus. (This all from Mr. Bus Safety) Look at the largest buildings in the countryside...they are insurance buildings, the master...the land holder....the king...that you must pay tribute to or suffer at the hands of their henchmen. WHEW! Glad I could get that off my Chest Have a nice weekend all.... | ||
| Swampy |
BTW, I also wear my helmet ALL THE TIME! I don't like bugs, rocks, and wind noise. | ||
| Brad_buell |
I'm with you Swampy. I wear, and will always wear, my helmet ALL the time regardless. And you are right-we will lose ALL the time with insurance companies. Our Premiums will rise regardless of the repealed helmet law. They always do and always will. It's what you might call: A License To Steal. -Brad(now I feel better!) | ||
| Awprior |
PA repealed their law last year, my rates doubled. When I got home from school (in MI) towards the end of June last year, I went to my insurance agency to discuss the increase. They looked at me in a perculiar way when I walked in with a 'Stich on with helmet in hand and all. I wear full gear 95% of the time, and have never ridden without a helmet. The explanation I was given was that the insurance companies had to compensate for the expected medical claims they would have because of people not wearing helmets. I currently have my M2 and XB12R insured in IL (no helmets) for around $1000, very good full coverage on both. PA was $1900 for just the Cyclone... You'll probably see an increase at first, then rates may go down. Insurance is a business, they have to cover their costs and make shareholders happy. My opinion: You're an idiot if you're don't gear up. Alex | ||
| Brad_buell |
Absolutely! Wear the gear no matter what happens! | ||
| Awprior |
To quote Court, "I always ride for fall" Bike and gear are replaceable. Their riders are not. I actually offer my spare helmets to the guys I ride with out here, few of them own one. | ||
| Newfie_buell |
Alex hit the nail on the head!!!!! | ||
| Nemster |
IMHO Helmets are one of the most important safety devices you could have when riding. I think they are so important I wear one all the time. And yes, I am wearing one right now!!!  | ||
| Typeone |
Alex, what response do you get when you offer up the spare lid? (*thats HUGE of you, by the way!) My uncle in CT (no helmet law) never wore a helmet, said he needed the wind in his hair. Whatever, rocks and bugs suck. My cousin in CT never wore a helmet and decided to pull a stoppie across a parking lot to entertain friends, lost it and went face first into a parking curb. Yup, face first. He didn't make it to see the rest of that afternoon. Heartbreaking to see his father arrive at the scene. (Message edited by typeone on April 30, 2005) | ||
| Awprior |
Most don't take it, but it makes me feel good to offer it. WAY back in the day, one of the first things I posted was about an accident I had, getting hit by a Ford LTD being pulled by a towtruck in Southfield, MI. He tried to get around me to get through a yellow light, the truck made it past, the car didn't. The car bumper hit my left leg, I went down. I was going slow, but the impact was enough for me to do a few cartwheels and slide across quite a bit of pavement. A few scraches on my jacket, tore open the leather pants I was wearing and destroyed the helmet... I kept it all, show it to guys who ask why I wear gear... | ||
| Brucelee |
As usual, legislatures know nothing and show it all the time. To wit, the "mandatory" extra insurance. And what do you do when mr. head trauma shows up inert in the ER and horrors, he DID NOT have this whopping $10K (One days stay in intensive care BTW) extra coverage? Ah, who pays for mr Head Trauma now? Why we do, those idiots like you and me who DID pay for our insurance. Are the POLS going to let Mr Head Trauma die? No, they are going to make you and I pay for MHT. And so it goes. | ||
| Clydeglide |
Ah, who pays for mr Head Trauma now? Why we do, those idiots like you and me who DID pay for our insurance. So, you subscribe to the theory that helmetless riders are a social burden? niiice.....  | ||
| Gearheart |
The primary reason that motorcycle insurance is reasonable in florida and the helmet law change didn't change your premiums particularly is that motorcycle insurance isn't required by law. | ||
| Clydeglide |
The primary reason that motorcycle insurance is reasonable in florida and the helmet law change didn't change your premiums particularly is that motorcycle insurance isn't required by law. Another social burden theorist. If you ride helmetless in Florida you also must carry $10k worth of medical insurance. For those of us with jobs that have medical insurance coverage it's not a problem. It's only those unemployed and without COBRA or day labor types that would have to buy the medical insurance. Unless they wear a helmet. | ||
| Outrider |
Pull the plug and the salvagable organs. Hell, they are probably just going to cremate the guy anyway. Just kidding, but it is a thought. Sort of like paying back the community and your insurance carrier for letting you live free. | ||
| Jmartz |
Good for Michigan. For a frigid northern state with a limited riding season, one could argue its "risk" of social burden is somewhat reduced over, for instance,Florida or Texas. Thank you Bush brothers for signing bills rpealing the helmet laws in your respective states. | ||
| Aesquire |
I stand four square against helmet laws. Think of it as evolution in action. | ||
| Lowlife |
Nice to see that a lot of you guys are wearing skid lids. The human body is not meant to be propelled along at speed completely exposed IMHO. Here in New Hampshire, we have experienced an increase in MC fatalities over the past couple of years. So, the State has decided to fund a study to look into why this is happening.... New Hampshire doesn't have a helmet law. Anybody have a hypothesis for this study? | ||
| Scooterroid |
Always start with a simple hypothesis (if you really want one) More motorcyclist + more vehicles = more accidents. The long term numbers almost always increase. | ||
| Koz5150 |
I am against helmet laws. I think a lot of people think that everybody rides hardcore all the time and that is not true. I agree tey save lives, I agree you are safer with them, but I don't agree that people should be forced to wear them. Pretty soon everyone will have to walk around in protective bubbles. |
