Michigan Governor to veto motorcycle helmet amendment
The Staff of Clutch and Chrome
June 14th 2008
The Michigan's
latest legislation to amend the state's motorcycle helmet
law will be vetoed by Gov. Jennifer Granholm.
The veto was
announced on Friday. Granholm vetoed a similar bill in 2006
Both the
House and Senate have approved a bill that would allow the
changes to Michigan's mandatory motorcycle helmet law,
allowing bikers to ride without a helmet if they buy an
annual state permit. However, citing safety concerns, Gov.
Jennifer Granholm rejected similar legislation in 2006 and
expressed recently she would likely would veto the current
bill if it was presented to her.
AAA Michigan had urged Governor Jennifer Granholm to veto
the legislation.
"Lawmakers have known for some time that this legislation
would result in 30 additional motorcycle fatalities each
year, along with 127 more incapacitating injuries and $129
million in added economic costs to Michigan citizens," said
Jack Peet, manager of Community Safety Services for AAA
Michigan.
"This is based on the experience of other states where
similar [motorcycle] measures have been enacted. If the
mandatory helmet requirement is repealed or waived through a
fee, there will be a significant increase in severe head
injuries and deaths," said Peet. "Studies show that in a
crash, unhelmeted motorcyclists are 40 times more likely
than helmeted cyclists to suffer a fatal head injury." |
