Should Helmets and Seat Belts Be Mandatory?

Safety

Should helmets and seat belts be required? Where’s the line between personal safety and individual liberty?Seat best and helmet laws

Michigan recently repealed its helmet law for motorcyclists, and is the 31st state to do so. Motorcyclists at least 21 years of age, having passed a safety course every two years, may ride helmet-free—but must carry at least an additional $20,000 in medical insurance.

Boosting Tourism

Michigan motorcycle advocates say the change will boost tourism and that personal safety is up to the rider. Jim Rhodes, the legislative director of the Michigan chapter of American Bikers Aiming Toward Education, said that Michigan has lost millions of dollars each year due to the helmet requirement, and that road safety “lies in rider education, car driver awareness, and license endorsement.”

However, every time a state has repealed its helmet laws, fatalities have gone up, according to Dr. Hedlund, a former associate administrator for traffic safety programs at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Personal Liberty: Why Laws Aren’t Getting More Strict

Most states’ laws vary regarding motorcycle helmets and for all low-power cycles such as scooters and mopeds. Illinois, Iowa, and New Hampshire are the only three states that don’t require helmets.

While seat belt laws vary greatly from state to state (especially in terms of age requirements and stricter laws for front-seat riders), in 18 states a police officer cannot stop and ticket a driver for the sole offense of not wearing a seat belt. Maine is quite strict; anyone over 18 (in any seat) not wearing a seat belt can result in being pulled over and issued a $70 fine for the first offense, and the fine is $160 for the second offense and $310 for the third. Arizona, on the other hand, requires only kids from age 5 to 15 to wear a seat belt in all seats of the vehicle, and anyone of any age sitting in the front seats—but you can’t be pulled over for it, and the fine is $10 for the first offense.

It’s Your Job to Be Safe

Many people believe adults shouldn’t be required to wear seat belts or helmets any more than they should be prohibited from eating two Big Macs every day, since they are only putting themselves in danger. While states may continue to relax on helmet laws to boost state economies, no adults are being forced to be unsafe or being given more lenience in putting others’ lives on the line.