Posted On: May 25, 2007, 11:51 pm CDT

Posted By: RustyBongard

(Last week, in a New York Times Op Ed entitled "Coming Clean," former New York lieutenant governor Betsy McCaughey noted that due to poor hygiene, hospital infections in the United States kill an estimated 103,000 patients every year. That is, the failure of hospitals to enforce cleanliness rules evidently results in the annual death of more patients in this country than AIDS, breast cancer, and auto accidents combined.)
Please, can we get our priorities in order?
How much would it cost the State of Michigan to require Automobile Drivers Training Courses to include Motorcycles as part of the training curriculum?
How much would it cost the State of Michigan to reprint the license renewal tests to include several comprehensive questions on driving with and around motorcyles?
How much would it cost the State of Michigan to enact a serious fine and penalty for right of way violations that kill or injure motorcyclists?
The answer is very little financial cost.
Economically the gains to the State of Michigan Citizens would be immense.
An independent consulting firm, (Michigan Consultants) estimates an annual Tourism increase of 53.9 million dollars, New sales and accessory increases of 500 million dollars (motorcycle industry),and over 2700 new jobs between tourism and sales with a helmet law repeal. All of the great lakes states with the exception of Michigan are helmet choice. It is a fact that Michigan is a tremendous resource for motorcycle touring, particularly the Upper Peninsula. It is a shame Michigan is not motorcyle friendly. Many of us leave the state to ride and spend our free time and money. Most out of state riders avoid our state. Michigan should be embracing the motorcyle touring phenomenom which has skyrocketed across our country with a fervor. The Upper Peninsula is being robbed of a huge financial boon that they NEED. The summer months in the Upper Peninsula which has the roads, eateries, and casinos already in place for fall deer hunters and winter snowmobilers would find motorcyclists to be the perfect summer resource, that would have little impact on their roads, the wildlife, or be a negative intrusion upon the other seasonal activities.
It is dereliction of duty to the taxpayeres and citizens of Michigan to forgoe this Economic gain. Just for the sake of AAA who neither insures nor offers to insure motorcyclists.
Annually Michigan Motorcyclist deaths form crashes is less than half of deaths attributable to pedestrians.
Bottom line: The UnAmerican, Unfair, Unworthwhile, Mandatory Helmet law has to go. A meaningful and comprehensive program to strikingly decrease motorcycle crashes has to be implemented. The result will be very economically salient for Michigan residents, and ultimately prove to be the best course for reducing not only head injuries but the whole vast field of paralysis, limb loss, blunt force trauma injuries, and severe othopedic injuries that helmets do not protect us from anyway.
This is clear to the vast majority of Representatives and Senators in Michigan. It was clear to them last year also. The only reason Michigan still is not doing the right thing, is because our Governor refuses to listen to anyone but her financial backers, the Insurance Industry.