TABLE 1A     Comparative Safety Equipment Use By Motorcyclists and Their Passengers

* Does not include cases with safety equipment use or injury level not stated.   Note: Injuries reported for motorcyclists and bicyclists include head and other bodily injuries.

While the use of protective equipment by motorcyclists and their passengers (Table 1A) is
expected to be more effective in preventing incapacitating and fatal injury, the inclusion of all types of
bodily injuries for motorcyclists and their passengers fails to show the true effect of safety helmet use.

Analysis

First let's look at the disclaimer above, "While the use of protective equipment by motorcyclists and their passengers (Table 1A) is expected to be more effective in preventing incapacitating and fatal injury, the inclusion of all types of bodily injuries for motorcyclists and their passengers fails to show the true effect of safety helmet use."  The first part of this disclaimer up to the comma is what the government has been telling us all along, wear a helmet and we expect you will be safer.

The second part is somewhat confusing, "the inclusion of all types of bodily injuries for motorcyclists and their passengers fails to show the true effect of safety helmet use."  Are they telling us that the true effects of safety helmet use are (negative) more injuries or no help in the prevention of injuries?  You can certainly read it that way.  If that is not correct then, are they saying that because other injuries besides head injuries are included, you cannot tell the true (positive) effects of helmet use?  If this is correct then, if the only variable was helmet use vs. non helmet use, and if in fact helmet use helps prevent head injuries then, isn't it logical  to conclude after looking at the "crash facts" that, helmet use must cause other bodily injuries, maybe back or neck injuries.  Finally, if there is a  true (positive) effect of safety helmet use then why the hell isn't it included with the "crash facts" booklet.  I mean geez, if you're presenting data about helmets use vs. non helmet use isn't it relevant?  It is unless your data doesn't support your theory.

Maybe we should just let the "crash facts" speak for them self.  According to the "crash facts", If you wear a safety helmet you are 2.78 times more likely to die in a traffic crash then without the helmet.  If you wear a safety helmet you are 1.34 times more likely to receive an incapacitating injury and 1.11 times more likely to receive a non incapacitating injury then without the helmet.  If you DO NOT wear a safety helmet you are 1.92 times more likely to walk away from the crash then you would be if you had your safety helmet securely fastened upon you head.  The above is all based on the "crash facts" for Florida from the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.

Now let me ask you a question.  Don't you think your House Representative and your Senator would like to know this information?  Do you think anyone from DHSMV has sent them a memo on these "crash facts?"

It is our job to get this to our local legislators.  It is our Job to get this to the Members of the Committee on Transportation & Economic Development Appropriations in the Florida House,  It is our job to get this information to the members of the Banking and Insurance Committee in the Florida Senate.  Feel free to cut and paste any part of this you need to if you would like to send it to your legislator.  You can then print it to snail mail or sent it in an email.  You can read the entire Florida Traffic Crash Facts Booklet by clicking here.  You will need Adobe PDF to view this file.  You can obtain the plug in by clicking here.  You can cut and paste info from here also.  You can also direct them to this website to read this article.  The most important thing is to get this information to them.

This is some of the best stuff we have seen in a long time.  It is the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles telling our legislators the helmet law isn't necessary.  Helmets do not prevent injury.  Safety helmets may in fact cause injury.  The members in the House and Senate need to hear from there constituents.  Now you have something to tell them.  Get the message out.