On April 13, 2012, Governor Snyder signed legislation repealing a 35-year-old Michigan law requiring all motorcyclists to wear a helmet. The bill states that any cyclist who wants to ride without a helmet must be 21 years old. They must also have passed a motorcycle safety course or have a motorcycle endorsement for at least two years and carry additional medical insurance of $20,000. Passengers must also be at least 21 years old and have additional insurance. This new law gives cyclists the right to choose. Where it falls short, in promoting the case that helmets save lives and reduce costly and possibly debilitating injuries to the rider and his passenger. As long as there is a law that drivers and front seat passengers in automobiles must wear seat belts and that passengers between the ages of 8 and 15 must wear seat belts in all seating positions, I firmly believe that everyone Motorcycle drivers and passengers should be required to wear helmets. They save lives and reduce the risk of serious injury. Every time a motorcyclist chooses to ride a bicycle without a helmet, he or she puts his or her life in danger. Despite this new freedom of choice, the proof is in the numbers. Ignoring them means neglecting your own safety. According to the Center for Disease Control website, as of June 12, 2012, helmet use is estimated to prevent 37 percent of cyclist deaths and 41 percent of passenger accidents. A report from the Governors Highway Safety Association, listed on their website, shows that preliminary data shows that in a nine-month period in 2012 there were 120 fatalities compared to 99 in 2011. Ask yourself, of all these deaths, how many of them they could have been prevented by simply wearing a helmet.... middle of paper... you shouldn't wear a helmet. You can significantly reduce the risk of death or injury. The “free choice” argument should never have been enough to change the law in Michigan or any other state. There are many things in this country worth arguing and fighting for, but this isn't really one of them. Cyclists could make better use of their time and mine. As long as I have to buckle up, which I am proud to say I do, and take every precaution possible while riding to be a safe driver, then I expect the same from a totally exposed motorcyclist. I don't want to be responsible for any accident. Nobody does. I especially don't want to be involved in anything that seriously injures or kills anyone. The chances of death or debilitating injuries are much more likely if the accident involves a cyclist who expresses his right to choose. For this reason I believe that the law should be changed.