Greetings,

Your Action Needed!

Last fall, the Michigan State Senate passed Senate Bill 297, which would allow motorcyclists over 21 who have taken a safety course to drive their motorcycles without a helmet.  The House Transportation Committee will hold a hearing and report out SB 297 on June 6, 2006.  It is expected that the committee will vote to support the bill and send it to the full House for a vote.  The bill will be voted on by the full House the next day June 7th, and then sent to Governor Granholm for signature. It is important that everyone write or call the Governor to let her know that you are against this change.

Points to address in your appeal:

• Motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of head injuries, about 50-60 percent in most studies.  About 25 percent of all cases of epilepsy are attributed to some kind of injury to the head. 
• Statistics show that in states where helmets are not required, only 50 percent of motorcyclists wear them.
• Unhelmeted motorcyclists are over three times as likely to suffer a brain injury when compared to those motorcyclists that wear helmets. 
• A helmet reduces the risk of death and injury to motorcyclists by 30 percent, without increasing the likelihood of having an accident.
• Helmet laws that apply only to young or inexperienced drivers are not effective in reducing death rates.  Research has shown that, in those states where helmet laws apply only to young drivers, death rates from head injuries remain twice as high as in states where laws are universal - applying to all drivers.
• Epilepsy is a chronic condition that can have devastating effects on an individual’s life.  It affects the entire family and can extract a social cost for treatment and support.  The national cost of epilepsy, excluding social support, is $12.5 billion per year.

Contact:
Governor Jennifer M. Granholm
P.O. Box 30013
Lansing, MI 48909
Phone: (517) 373-3400 or (517) 335-7858, Fax: (517) 335-6863

If you need more information about this issue, please contact the Epilepsy Foundation of Michigan, 248-351-7979.

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