Up until 1997 the federal government required state governments to implement helmet laws as a precondition to receiving federal money to help with maintenance of roads.  No helmet law = no federal dollars.  In 1997 the law requiring helmets to get federal dollars went teh way of slaveryand since then states have been able to determine for themselves whether or not to implement helmet laws. Texas repealed their helmet law in 1997 and since then there has been a 25% increase in motorcycle fatalities per motorcycle mile driven.

I do not argue that motorcycle deaths are not increasing but I do think motorcycle deaths are increasing for additional reasons than just repealing the helmet law.  First of all there are a lot more motorcycles on the road given the recent high gas prices.  Most of these people entering the motorcycle population are relatively new riders and are inexperienced. As a result of the increased numbers and inexperience more motorcycle riders are going to die.

In the article linked to above a professor states “this study show that it's bad public policy to repeal mandatory motorcycle helmet laws."  If public policy were simply to preserve the lives of every human within their borders I might be inclined to agree with the professor.   However, public policy is a reflection of what the people want.  If the people do not want to wear helmets and want to ride thier motorcycles free with the wind in their hair that is their choice.  That choice should not be infringed.

We represent motorcycle riders and their families across Utah including the counties and cities of Beaver, Box Elder, Cache, Carbon, Daggett, Davis, Duchesne, Emery, Garfield, Grand, Iron, Juab, Kane, Millard, Morgan, Piute, Rich, Salt Lake, San Juan, Sanpete, Sevier, Summit, Tooele, Uintah, Utah, Wasatch, Washington, Wayne, Weber, American Fork, Beaver, Bountiful, Brigham City, Cedar City, Delta, Draper, Duchesne, Fillmore, Heber, Kamas, Kanab, Kaysville, Layton, Lehi, Logan, Moab, Murray, Nephi, Ogden, Orem, Park City, Price, Provo, Richfield, Riverton, Roy, Salt Lake City, Sandy, South Jordan, St. George, Tooele, Vernal, West Jordan, and West Valley City.

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