Reference no: EM133218900

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Does your state have a motorcycle helmet law? If yes, what is the law?

• In Florida, it is mandatory for all motorcycle drivers to wear a helmet that satisfies the Federal Motorcycle Vehicle Safety Standards. However, riders older than 21, can avoid wearing a helmet if they demonstrate that their insurance coverage provides at least $10,000 in medical benefits for injuries (Webb, 2017). For riders under 21, a license plate that is distinctive in appearance and color must be displayed on any motorbike registered to a rider under 21 (Allen, 2022). The current motorcycle legislation in Florida became effective in 2000. According to statistics comparing data from before and after the helmet repeal, the new helmet rule significantly increased the number of motorcycle rider fatalities by at least 48.6% (Allen, 2022). The motorcycle helmet law is constituted by the Florida Statute 316.211 and established by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Do you think state legislators should mandate motorcycle helmet laws?

• Yes, I believe that state legislators should impose a requirement for motorcycle helmet use since studies show that wearing a helmet can lower the chance of suffering a serious injury and death. According to the Centers for Disease Control (2022), motorcycle helmets prevented 1,859 fatalities in 2016, and further 802 lives may have been spared if all cyclists had been wearing helmets. Motorcycle helmets can lower the risk of a brain injury by 69 percent and the chance of mortality from a motorcycle collision by 37 percent (Allen, 2022). Even so, a head injury may cause catastrophic brain injury or even death. If the victim survives, the brain damage may result in cognitive, physical, and emotional disabilities (Allen, 2022). As a result, it is always in the best interest of a rider to wear a motorbike helmet whenever they ride. Even though Florida's motorcycle helmet rules exempt the individual from wearing a helmet, it is advisable to do so to lessen the likelihood that they would sustain injuries in a motorcycle accident.

Why do you think people lobby for or against these safety regulations?

• I think people lobby for the safety regulations because helmets have shown to decrease the risk of death and brain injury and produce a greater likelihood of recovering from injuries. I think people lobby against safety regulations because everyone has a choice of what they want to do. Whether or not people think wearing a helmet is the safest option, people decide to do what is best for them, and if they decide not to wear a helmet, they know the consequences. The heavy weight of the helmet, the sense of heat, the pain in the neck, the sensation of suffocation, the restriction of head and neck motions, and all combined physical discomfort was the major reason for not using a helmet during motorcycle excursions (Faryabi et al., 2014).

How has the implementation of motorcycle regulations improved health statistics in states?

• According to data, there were over 10,200 motorcycle accidents in the state in 2015, an increase of 3.5% from 2014 (Webb, 2017). The number of fatalities involving motorcycle drivers increased even more in 2015, rising by 546 over the previous year and in 2015, there were 38 motorcycle passenger fatalities, an almost 73 percent increase from the previous year (Webb, 2017). According to official statistics, over half of all victims of motorcycle accidents in Florida in 2015 were not wearing helmets. Similar outcomes are seen by government statistics. During the period from 1997 to 1999, when all motorcyclists were compelled to wear helmets, 515 riders died in crashes (Allen, 2022). When helmets were made optional for some riders between 2001 and 2003, the number of fatal motorcycle accidents increased to 933 (Allen, 2022).

QUESTION: Explaining your personal position on motorcycle helmet laws and whether you agree or disagree with their position.