DataDan
Mama says he's bona fide
Effective August 28, 2020, riders in Missouri, which currently has an all-rider helmet law, will be able to ride helmetless. At least some of them. The requirement will no longer apply to riders age 26+ with health insurance.
Missouri ranks 22nd among states in motorcycle registrations, 31st in registrations per 1000 population. Show-Me state motorcyclists ride an average of 3424 miles per year per registered bike, 8th highest in the US. Over 5 years, 2014-2018, an average of 110 Missouri motorcyclists have been killed per year, 15th highest.
Since 1997, 6 states have repealed all-rider helmet laws as shown in the graph below. Nevertheless, helmet use in US crashes has gradually increased.
After the Michigan repeal, I didn't think we'd see any more; the movement seemed to have lost steam. But here we are. As BARF's dutiful bean counter I have kept track of helmet use, helmet laws, and the effect on motorcycle fatalities.
Helmets save lives
NHTSA estimates the effectiveness of helmets at saving lives based on a 2004 study of data from 1993 to 2002, which concluded that 37% of unhelmeted riders killed would survive wearing a helmet. However, that study is often criticized due to thin data (it depends on 2-up cases where rider is helmeted, passenger not, and vice-versa). My continuation of the same study thru 2018 (with 4 times as many of those infrequent cases) estimates 36% effectiveness.
Estimated differently--as rider lethality (deaths/crashes) for all crashes--an unhelmeted rider is 40% more likely to be killed than a helmeted rider.
Data available from states that have repealed all-rider helmet laws suggests that Missouri can expect crash lethality to increase by 30-40% over the next few years.
Ironically, riders age 26+ who will have the option of riding helmetless, are more vulnerable in a helmetless crash than the < 25s, who will not have the option.
Missouri ranks 22nd among states in motorcycle registrations, 31st in registrations per 1000 population. Show-Me state motorcyclists ride an average of 3424 miles per year per registered bike, 8th highest in the US. Over 5 years, 2014-2018, an average of 110 Missouri motorcyclists have been killed per year, 15th highest.
Since 1997, 6 states have repealed all-rider helmet laws as shown in the graph below. Nevertheless, helmet use in US crashes has gradually increased.
After the Michigan repeal, I didn't think we'd see any more; the movement seemed to have lost steam. But here we are. As BARF's dutiful bean counter I have kept track of helmet use, helmet laws, and the effect on motorcycle fatalities.
Helmets save lives
NHTSA estimates the effectiveness of helmets at saving lives based on a 2004 study of data from 1993 to 2002, which concluded that 37% of unhelmeted riders killed would survive wearing a helmet. However, that study is often criticized due to thin data (it depends on 2-up cases where rider is helmeted, passenger not, and vice-versa). My continuation of the same study thru 2018 (with 4 times as many of those infrequent cases) estimates 36% effectiveness.
Estimated differently--as rider lethality (deaths/crashes) for all crashes--an unhelmeted rider is 40% more likely to be killed than a helmeted rider.
Data available from states that have repealed all-rider helmet laws suggests that Missouri can expect crash lethality to increase by 30-40% over the next few years.
Ironically, riders age 26+ who will have the option of riding helmetless, are more vulnerable in a helmetless crash than the < 25s, who will not have the option.
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