The Insurance Journal reported that there may be an end to California’s mandatory helment law. That’s right. There is a senate bill that may end the mandatory helmet law in California.
My thoughts on this are mixed. Helmet laws may not reduce the number of accidents or deaths, but they do make the injuries to the head less traumatic. There are some comments with the article that the Florida DOT has statistics to prove that states with mandatory helmet laws have more deaths per riders than those without. Interesting. I also think that people need to be able to make their own decisions.
Interestingly, the California bill requires helmets for people who cannot prove they have their own health insurance. This leads me to two issues. First, are health insurance companies going to give a discount to those who wear helmets? Second, are they going to increase the minimum limits of insurance because people who do not wear helmets might be more seriously injured?
I am not sure where I come out on this. I would love to hear your comments. I will be sure to follow this for you.