wolverine_steve

Tue, Dec 4, 2012 : 5:45 p.m.

This is a sad story, and my heart goes out to the family, especially since I often ride my motorcycle down that same stretch of road. This and the other recent Washtenaw County motorcycle fatality remind me of the importance of being visible when riding a motorcycle. The stats I've seen show that 2/3 of motorcycle accidents are caused by a car driver not seeing a motorcycle and pulling into their path. With that in mind, it's fairly amazing that the vast majority of motorcycle riders (whether they wear a helmet or not) choose to wear black or other dark clothing. I've read several studies (in both the U.S. and overseas) that show that wearing high visibility clothing can reduce a motorcyclist's chance of being in an accident by over 40%. In fact, the U.S. military mandates that all motorcyclists wear a high viz jacket or vest when riding on base. I know that riding a motorcycle is inherently more dangerous than driving a car and that you certainly can't prevent all accidents, but if wearing the proper gear can significantly reduce my odds of being hurt in an accident, I think that's the smart thing to do.

southsiderez

Tue, Dec 4, 2012 : 1:45 p.m.

A very sad story. My heart goes out to the family. I can't imagine losing a child at a young age. Someone close to me was riding his motorcycle on 94, going 70 m.p.h., far left lane. His was a sport bike-what they call "donor bikes" in hospitals, because the body is faced forward, which means the head is likely to sustain the major injuries leaving the organs in tact. A driver lost control directly in front of him, swerving across all lanes. He's a very experience motorcyclist, but here was no time to react. He hit the car and flew over it, landing on the pavement. When the ambulance arrived, he was unconscious. His injuries? A dislocated shoulder, mild concussion, and broken thumb. But you should see his equipment. Massive gash on the side of his helmet, and the leather on the back of his jacket burned all the way down to a hole. The doctors said his equipment (he wore full leathers) saved his life. (But it doesn't take a rocket scientist or a doctor to have come to that conclusion.) He has no lasting injuries from that accident. His wife and two young children are forever thankful to still have him in their lives. Please share this story with anyone you know who insists that with this type of accident, it doesn't really matter whether you have a helmet or not. Complete and utter foolishness.

A A Resident

Mon, Dec 3, 2012 : 10:17 p.m.

Mr. Pohl, I'll add one more thing: Rather than suing the gal who made the driving error (we've all made driving mistakes), might it be possible to sue the anti-helmet lobbyists, and politicians who voted for the repeal, for fraud or negligence? I suspect that there's enough good data to back up the claim, at least the negligence part.

JK

Mon, Dec 3, 2012 : 2:49 p.m.

My sympathies to the family for their losses. It's ironic that the law allows you to go helmetless after two years of having a motorcycle license. Even if the motorcycle driver is experiencetheir has no bearing on the experience level of the drivers in the other vehicles on the road. The helmet law was originally enacted for safety purposes just like the seat belt laws. They encourage people to take safety precautions. There will always be those that completely disregard safety and that is their choice, but it does impact the rest of us. Consider a crash where having a helmet on might allow a motorcycle driver to maintain better control of the vehicle so that more people aren't hurt. It's why we have all of these safety devices to protect drivers in cars, so that they can maintain control if possible. (Never made sense to me why bus drivers aren't equally protected.) I hope that the helmet law is revised again to require helmets regardless of "experience".

A A Resident

Mon, Dec 3, 2012 : 10:59 a.m.

It's sad that a few here are parroting the claims of the anti-helmet lobby, without doing some more thorough research. Yes, total motorcycle deaths may be down slightly this year (85 versus 89 for the same period last year). But let's not pretend that reductions in total deaths have anything to do with repeal of the helmet law. Since the repeal, during a two month study period, deaths among helmetless riders involved in accidents were three times as high as drivers wearing helmets. Any general reduction in total deaths is more likely due to ABS brakes becoming more and more common on motorcycles, which has been an enormous help in preventing riders from going down. So as a lifelong motorcycle rider, I'd like to take some of the anti-helmet or pro-choice riders to task for their irresponsible claims. It is people like you who give riders like the man who died a false sense of security, or lead them to believe that they haven't substantially increased their risk, so you can share some of the blame. Shame on you!

15crown00

Mon, Dec 3, 2012 : 5:25 a.m.

it's just bad any way you look at it

walker101

Mon, Dec 3, 2012 : 4:31 a.m.

Motorcycles are just plain dangerous no matter if you wear a helmet or not, after my first close call I sold it with no regrets, regardless of the law in many cases it doesn't matter. Terrible for both parties.

justcurious

Mon, Dec 3, 2012 : 4:29 a.m.

I have ridden motorcycles for 17 years. I understand that by doing so I am putting my self at more risk for personal injury than I am when driving a car. I believe that wearing a helmet is the main thing that can help prevent one of the worst injuries that can happen to a rider - brain injury. A helmet will not guarantee that a rider will not be killed but it certainly can make the odds better. I not only believe in helmet use but full face helmet use. I have slid down broken pavement on my face before and if I had not had that chin guard it would have been my chin and face taking the brunt of it. A motorcycle rider should not be so naive as to think he is the only one who will be effected by a head injury. His family and everyone he knows will be affected, not to mention the rest of us who will foot the bill for a lifetime of treatment. I was strongly against Gov. Snyder signing that bill and when he did it he lost future support from me. My heart goes out to this family. This need not have happened to them. Yes, Gov. Snyder should be forced to read all such accounts.

Justice4all

Mon, Dec 3, 2012 : 3:54 a.m.

As in an earlier story...Tragic but thank you for writing it as you did. It is hear wrenching to read, but lessons for sure. As a lifelong rider I've never understood how/why you would go without a helmet.

Atrain

Mon, Dec 3, 2012 : 2:51 a.m.

This is sad. He was an experienced rider it seems, after the mandatory helmet time in the law, it was his choice. Accidents happen. "That's why people should wear their helmets. If you're wearing your helmet, people won't die and people won't have to deal with the consequences of having killed someone." The girl didn't kill him his injuries did. They parents should not sue this young lady. Their son made a choice as a grown man, and in the unsettling facts that there actually was an accident, his choice limited his options. Many times people still die with their helmets on. Imagine the accidents where a rider is decapitated... Helmet didn't save them now did it? I believe the seat belt law should be the same. I know friends who survived auto accidents b/c they weren't wearing their seat belts, and friends who have died b/c it held them in place. Cautionary are the reasons to the laws. You never can predict the actual outcome of an accident.

Frustrated in A2

Mon, Dec 3, 2012 : 2:46 a.m.

This article and others like it should be sent to Gov. Snyder so that he can see the effects of this law. My heart goes out to this family and others in a similar situation. Is it worth the extra tourism dollars this new change in the helmet law is supposed to bring in???

Ann English

Mon, Dec 3, 2012 : 1:31 a.m.

It sounds as if Scott hit the right rear corner of Hamilton's SUV. So she DID see one oncoming vehicle, and yielded the right of way to it? I wonder if just a short stretch of the opposite lane was visible to her. I still think of a sedan-motorcycle accident on Nine Mile Road in Whitmore Lake, in which the sedan driver turned left into a church driveway and a motorcyclist coming from the opposite direction DID collide with the right rear corner panel of the car. But the driveway was at the top of a hill to the west, so neither person had a good, long-distance view of the road ahead of him. I think even the "cheap" helmet worn by that motorcyclist limited his injuries. I don't remember any bleeding.

arborarmy

Mon, Dec 3, 2012 : 12:03 a.m.

Whatever else might be true, this family lost a loved one and still is in mourning. Yet the band of usual suspects make the predictably heartless and unfeeling comments about this tragedy. Unfortunately, this is all too common.

Wolf's Bane

Sun, Dec 2, 2012 : 11:45 p.m.

Thank you Gov. Snyder.

Seasoned Cit

Sun, Dec 2, 2012 : 9:44 p.m.

Tragedy Yes.... but to blame the State when their son made the decision to not wear a helmet is an example of expecting Govt. to take care of us even when we don't care enough to do something ourselves. It always sounds good to pass a law to protect folks.. like don't drive when drinking, or buckle up for safety and that's when many humans say.. you can't force me to do that. Remember when the law said we had to have your seatbelt buckled before the car would start ??? And it didn't take very long before it was overturned. It took a lot longer to reverse prohibition, but it happened and now we've got states saying OK to smoking a little weed. Somewhere we all have to believe that each of us has the responsibility to account for our own actions and if it results in something bad we're responsible for the outcome.

Roadman

Sun, Dec 2, 2012 : 9:27 p.m.

I litigate traumatic brain injury cases as an attorney and have had a teenage relative of mine who survived a catastrophic auto accident in 1986 because, as medical professionals advised my family, he was wearing a helmet at the time he collided with motor vehicle. He sustained no TBI and his injuries were primarily orthopedic from which he substantially recovered from initial disability. He kept the damaged helmet as a souvenir of his survival of a serious accident When we had heard that the motorcycle helmet law was being repealed, my family expressed disappointment over Governor Snyder's action in signing the repeal law. We had felt the helmet law had been responsible for preventing or mitigating many head injuries for bikers. My profound sympathies go out to the Pohls and I hope that a positive by-product of this sad incident is that it will galvanize public opinion into reinstating the helmet law that had been one of the wisest enactments made by the Michigan Legislature.

Stephen Landes

Sun, Dec 2, 2012 : 9 p.m.

I don't ride a motorcycle and never would. After reading most of the comments posted here I have to wonder about the "motor cycle culture". What is it about motor cyclists that they seem to be more concerned with whether or not they appear to be "dorks" than with their safety? What is it about this culture that there has to be a law in place to require helmet use so some people have a crutch to prevent them from appearing to be uncool? We went through a lot with seat belts in cars, but much of the opposition was the perception by drivers that they were surrounded by all that metal, so they were safe. Cyclists can't possibly be under that misapprehension.

LRF

Sun, Dec 2, 2012 : 7:33 p.m.

It's a sad and very tragic story anytime a life is lost and especially someone in the prime of life, however the no helmet law does not require a rider to ride helmetless it only gives them the option. If someone is of age to obtain a license to ride a motorcycle they should be able to realize the danger and responsibility that comes with it. Sad but true .... think about it.

shepard145

Sun, Dec 2, 2012 : 6:16 p.m.

So where it the news? Living life can be wonderful and it can be tragic. Less of either of those if you want to spend your life locked in a room. Scott knew that wearing a helmet while riding a motor cycle is not illegal, as it is when driving a car. It was his option and he chose not to, increasing his risk that if he was in an accident. Every time anyone gets in a car or on a motor cycle, we know we could be involved in an accident that day – that's just the way it is. Scott was comfortable with the risk that day and it ended badly – hence the tragedy. That's just what happens sometimes but because Scott had a really bad day does not mean I need to wear a helmet or will die the same way. Still, anyone with a normal life and writing on this board could be dead by the end of the week – that's just the way life is and no amount of nanny state hand holding will change that. ..and of course, motorcycle deaths are down despite all the spin and lies by those trying to maximize their profits by restricting the behavior of other adults.

julieswhimsies

Sun, Dec 2, 2012 : 5:45 p.m.

I experienced a very dangerous fall from my horse several years ago. My helmet split down the back. Had I not been wearing a helmet, that split would have been my skull. I NEVER ride without a helmet. I never have. Riders replace their helmets after any fall impacting their head, as well. Riding a motorcycle without a helmet? Hey. I LOVE life!

julieswhimsies

Sun, Dec 2, 2012 : 5:25 p.m.

It is so tragic when a young person, full of potential, loses his life. It is especially tragic when that loss could have been prevented by wearing a simple piece of equipment. My heart goes out to this family in their struggles. Wear the helmet. Just wear the helmet.

dotdash

Sun, Dec 2, 2012 : 5:22 p.m.

Whenever I see a motorcycle driver without a helmet, I hope I will not be the one who will kill him/her. Any of the little moments of inattentiveness or risk that are normally recoverable (the "sneeze factor") could result in someone's death if that person is as vulnerable as helmetless riders are. Same with someone walking along the highway. Or driving with people in the back of a pickup. These are vulnerable positions to put yourself in. I'll do the best driving job I can, but please motorcycle driver, for both our sakes, do your part and wear a helmet.

E. Daniel Ayres

Sun, Dec 2, 2012 : 5:19 p.m.

Young drivers do not pay adequate attention unless and until they get that one close call scare or unfortunatlely cause an accident before they really learn how serious and how important the message about always paying full attention to your surroundings and traffic really is. If I had my way, I would require every young driver to train on a motorcycle before being granted full driving rights so that they experience and understand just how vulnerable the other driver can be. I personally used motorcycles as my prmary transportation for four years before I ever owned a car. It gave me a different perspective on operating motor vehicles.

E. Daniel Ayres

Sun, Dec 2, 2012 : 5:15 p.m.

My younger brother was killed at age 17 riding his motorcycle to tell my parents he had just been accepted to finish high school in State College, PA after having dropped out of the Philadelphia public school system. His death was not prevented by a helmet which I salvaged from his body at the emergency room even though it was soaked with his blood. A few days later, friends of his came to a memorial service on a motorcycle from Ohio which permitted riding without a helmet at the time. A young female "back seat passenger" had no helmet with her. His helmet was pressed on her and she wore it on the trip home. During that trip in traffic near Columbus, OH, the bike she was on was forced down by a car that cut them off, and she slid on the pavement until her head hit the crub! If she had not been wearling my brother's helmet there is no doubt she would have died!

motorcycleminer

Sun, Dec 2, 2012 : 5:13 p.m.

In life one makes choices ..some good , some bad , unfortunately some fatal....

A A Resident

Sun, Dec 2, 2012 : 5:13 p.m.

Mr. Pohl, thank you for using this tragedy as an opportunity to help others, by increasing motorcycle safety awareness. I'm so sorry for your loss. My father knows I was injured in a vehicle accident earlier this year, but I didn't have the courage to tell him that the vehicle was a motorcycle. It's tough being a parent, and parents can feel so helpless sometimes...

Boo Radley

Sun, Dec 2, 2012 : 5:06 p.m.

In reading all of the comments, it seems that Gov. Snyder is being blamed and considered 100% responsible for repealing the helmet law. Yes, he could have refused to sign it, as Gov. Granholm did, but how did it keep ending up on the Governor's desk year after year? Did anyone write their legislators to argue against the helmet repeal law?

Jon Saalberg

Sun, Dec 2, 2012 : 5:03 p.m.

Well, Mr. Synder - I hope you are proud of this GOP legislative accomplishment, that has resulted in the death of numerous Michiganders. I thought part of your mission is to better the lives of our state's residents, not hasten their end. Some posters say he chose to not wear a helmet - true. But if the law had not been changed, he would have been wearing a helmet. So the change in the law is responsible for his decision. While Michigan's helmet law was in effect, I never saw a cyclist sans helmet.

E. Daniel Ayres

Sun, Dec 2, 2012 : 4:59 p.m.

As a 70 year old lifetime motorcyle rider and enthusiast, I've accumulated a lot of stories like this. This one is fundamentally similar to the one which almost killed a long-term family friend back in 1965. In both cases, a young driver very familiar with the local intersection turned left across traffic from behind another vehicle to cross traffic and was hit by an oncoming motorcyle which had little or not opportunity to avoid the accident. The helmet law, true, has some possible impact, but MOST IMPORTANT IS THE INATTENTIVE YOUNG DRIVER ON A FAMILIAR RELATIVELY LOW TRAFFIC ROAD! Going to get ice for a second graduation party travelling with a younger sibling? In a hurry to get home to milk the cows? Come on!

clownfish

Sun, Dec 2, 2012 : 4:27 p.m.

"In 2000, for example, Florida changed its universal helmet law to a partial helmet law that covered only riders aged <21 years and those with <$10,000 in medical insurance coverage. During the 2 years after the law was changed, the motorcyclist death rate per 10,000 registered motorcycles in Florida increased by 21%, deaths among motorcycle riders aged <21 years nearly tripled, and hospital admissions of motorcyclists with injuries to the head, brain, and skull increased by 82% (7). In addition, gross costs charged to hospital-admitted motorcyclists with head, brain, or skull injuries in Florida more than doubled, from $21 million to $50 million (7). Studies that have examined nonfatal injury outcomes among motorcyclists who wore helmets and those who did not have found that hospitalized riders who had not worn helmets incurred higher health-care costs (8,9). Riders who do not wear helmets are more likely to suffer traumatic brain injuries, and median hospital charges for those with traumatic brain injuries are 13 times higher than for those without such injuries (8). Riders who do not wear helmets also are less likely to have health insurance, and therefore are more likely to require publicly funded health care (9). http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6123a1.htm Taxpayers pick up the tab for Other Peoples "freedom" to be , as Mr Pohl said himself...stupid.

clownfish

Sun, Dec 2, 2012 : 4:20 p.m.

"You may call it stupid but I call it living." I call it being dead. Condolences to both families involved in this tragedy. If he had worn a helmet or if she had looked twice this could have ended differently.

Tom Todd

Sun, Dec 2, 2012 : 3:59 p.m.

Snyder the Genius

JPLewis

Sun, Dec 2, 2012 : 3:55 p.m.

It boils down to: Keep your laws off my body. Personal safety, drug use, reproductive rights, ...etc.

dugster

Sun, Dec 2, 2012 : 3:55 p.m.

I say why don't we extend this insanity of not wearing a helmet. I drive a snowmobile. When they made this law why didn't they extend it to snowmobiles. Going without a helmet on a snowmobile is just as asinine as going on a motorcycle without one. And before anyone mentions the cold, i'm sure I could find a head protection for the cold that wouldn't require me to where one of the silly helmets. P.S. hopefully everyone is catching the sarcasm in the last statement

cibachrome

Sun, Dec 2, 2012 : 3:53 p.m.

It's still amazing to me that airline passengers scramble to put on a seatbelt as if they were looking for their winning lottery ticket, yet have a very low chance of surviving a serious crash from any altitude. Yet, car seatbelts are still 'bad medicine' and motorcycle helmets are freedom. What would bikers say about airbags on their scooters? The comment about inept drivers struck home. I now realize that will always be true. As will drunk or stoned drivers. Driving defensively and staying away from certain types of roads, intersections and locations is all you have left. I love my SUV. Its a tank. The extra gas is worth living another 30 years pain free. Distracted drivers, though, need to be pilloried.

Tim Hornton

Sun, Dec 2, 2012 : 3:49 p.m.

Sounds like this article is trying to suggest it was everybodies fault accept the teenage girl who killed this guy. Typical AAnews. They will probably delete this post too as they often do with commentsthey don't like. That being said there are a lot of bad drivers out there that don't pay attention and I don't ride bikes. With or without a helmet you are probably going to die in bad crash.

Steven Murphy

Sun, Dec 2, 2012 : 3:45 p.m.

It's sad ending to a young life, but I would guess that Scott's in a way better place than this world.

Bob Krzewinski

Sun, Dec 2, 2012 : 3:35 p.m.

I can relate how helmets help. Riding on my bicycle in November 2006, FOLLOWING ALL TRAFFIC REGULATIONS, I was hit on a 25mph by a coward who left the scene and never even had to backbone to see if I was injured (I was - out of work for 5 months). My bicycle helmet had at least an inch of surface scraped off. That could have been an inch shaved off my skull without a helmet.

Karl Pohl

Sun, Dec 2, 2012 : 3:26 p.m.

I'm Karl Pohl the father of Scott. We did donate his organs but unfortunately he had such severe injuries to his chest and abdomen region that they couldn't use his lungs, heart, liver etc. The only organ that was used for transplant were his kidneys which I'm happy to say has helped two people. Scott very well may have died even he was wearing his helmet one Dr even said that but we will never know for sure. I just wish governor Snyder would reconsider the law. We have to wear our seat belts for safety and a helmet should be worn to. Many live have been saved by the seatbelt law and many lives will be saved if riders must wear helmets.....Sometimes we have to be protected from ourselves.

Nunya

Sun, Dec 2, 2012 : 3:04 p.m.

yes, the helmet may have saved his life, but what life would it be? As a self described risk taker, I doubt he would have wanted to be the shell of his former self.

Ron Granger

Sun, Dec 2, 2012 : 3 p.m.

Only through stronger penalties and vigorous enforcement will people begin to take their responsibilities in operating heavy machinery (cars and SUVs) more seriously. SUV's also create a further feeling of invulnerability that doesn't happen with small cars. I think people are more careful when driving small cars, including myself. The story is fairly comprehensive but seems to omit a few facts I was looking for: What was the speed limit on the country road? What was the estimated speed of the motorcycle? The speed limit for unposted rural roads is 55mph. I don't see how a helmet would make much difference, if any, at anything approaching those speeds. Was the headlight of the motorcycle functioning and on? I don't suppose we'll ever really know if the radio was on in the SUV or how loud it was. What type of vehicle was ahead of the motorcycle? That doesn't matter much - certainly the driver had a responsibility to make certain the road was clear. But some larger vehicles block the view of what is behind them more than others. You know how you can look down a country road and expect to see the edge or side of on-coming cars? A driver might wrongly assume there is only one vehicle if the second vehicle cannot be seen in that way, turning prematurely. When stopping to make a left turn like this on a country road, it is also critical that drivers check their mirrors to make certain they are not being passed by someone who just sees them as stopped in the road. Or if someone in a line of cars pulls out to pass when the lead car slows (for the turning driver). How many times have you wanted to pass someone who is stopped in the road, with indecision and no signals, when they suddenly start to turn? Much is being said in this story about the experience of the motorcycle rider, but nothing about the SUV driver. With cases pending that is not unexpected, but it is certainly very relevant.

Ignatz

Sun, Dec 2, 2012 : 2:57 p.m.

I'm sorry that Scott died. I'm sorry that he chose not to wear a helmet, but it was his choice. There's no law that prevented him from wearing one. I and my friends discussed the choice and we all chose to still wear that small amount of protection.

Billy

Sun, Dec 2, 2012 : 2:57 p.m.

Ok so everyone here seems to be under the assumption that motorcycle deaths have INCREASED since the ban was lifted. ACTUALLY......they have gone DOWN 13% since the ban was lifted..... Attribute that change to whatever you want....but that's the facts....

Billy

Sun, Dec 2, 2012 : 2:43 p.m.

I must say that I'm absolutely STUNNED that the OVERWHELMING census here is that he is dead because he didn't wear a helmet....not because an inept driver pulled out in front of him.... I take that back....i'm not stunned....so much as disappointed and disgusted in the ignorance displayed here...

A A Resident

Sun, Dec 2, 2012 : 2:36 p.m.

Sure, he was the one who made the decision to ride without a helmet, but as motorcyclist, here's what I think is the salient point: Repeal of the helmet law has increased the temptation to ride without one. As I mentioned earlier, while a few motorcyclists were adamantly opposed to wearing helmets, most were basically OK with it when it was required by law for everyone. Even if it wasn't "cool", you could use the law as an excuse for wearing one. Even if this man wasn't legally entitled to the helmet exception, there's little doubt that he would have been wearing one back when everyone was required to. Basically, everyone did. And his mother and father wouldn't have needed to plead with him. I think most of us can acknowledge the value of some laws designed to protect us from ourselves. Those who don't can work on repealing the seat belt laws.

a2citizen

Sun, Dec 2, 2012 : 2:26 p.m.

It was a tragic death but he parents may want to reconsider the lawsuit. Can any amount of money they receive really change their lives? Look how the first insurance settlement ended up.

Gretchen Ridenour

Sun, Dec 2, 2012 : 2:15 p.m.

My condolences go out to the Pohl family and those who loved Scott. This is such a tragedy, especially since his dad strongly encouraged him to wear his helmet for safety. Having said that, I believe their anger is misdirected when they blame the state's new helmet law for his death. Scott was an adult who made a decision that turned out not to be in his best interest. The law didn't make him ride without the helmut; he made a conscious choice knowing the potential consequences. Again, my sympathy to his family.

Joe Wood

Sun, Dec 2, 2012 : 2:11 p.m.

"Though the new law says an operator must be certified for two years before going helmetless, Scott began riding without one." It is not Governor Snyder's fault if someone breaks the law and rides without a helmet. I've been riding for 46 years and I personally always wear one.

Dirtgrain

Sun, Dec 2, 2012 : 2 p.m.

Wearing a helmet does improve one's chances of surviving a motorcycle crash. From a 2003 study: "Based on a comparison of fatal crashes involving motorcycles with two riders, at least one of whom was killed, the National Center for Statistics and Analysis (NCSA) of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has estimated helmets to be about 37 percent effective in preventing fatalities" (http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/809861.pdf). Mr. Pohl died of head injuries, so the chances a helmet would have saved his life are even higher. I thank the Pohl family for sharing this information. Fatalities from motorcycle accidents are no doubt going up in Michigan because of the law change. When we are riding out there on the road, we can reduce the danger to us by practicing safe riding techniques (I recommend David Hough's "Proficient Motorcycling") and by wearing highly rated protective gear from head to toe. One can even do things to improve one's visibility (extra lights; changing lane position; wearing high-visibility gear, including a helmet; honking a horn to get attention). Still, sometimes a driver is not looking and pulls right in front of a rider. In those cases, wearing proper gear significantly improves one's chances.

Chase Ingersoll

Sun, Dec 2, 2012 : 1:44 p.m.

I purchased a Honda Magna V45 when I turned 22. The information in my State Farm Agent's office was that more than half of motorcycle fatalities involved a motorcycle driver that was drinking. I quit drinking. The next two categories were drivers under the age of 25 and those who had been driving for less than 6 months. I put about 20k miles on motorcycles in the next 3 years. and drove in the worst conditions: thunderstorms, ice on the road, snowstorms and after midnight on the weekends when all the drunks are out. I drove without a helmet, which I found to reduce my hearing, vision and to cause rider fatigue. Statistically, I figured that I was more likely to be in an accident if I could not hear or see as well and that while the helmet would protect my head it would increase the likelihood in a crash that my neck would be snapped. Going back to horse and wagon, roads and means of transport are just plain dangerous to riders. Accidents with fatal consequences will happen. I should have been a statistic and there could have been someone out there for the rest of their life regretting that they had pulled out in front of me. I met a girl. She would not get on the motorcycle, so I sold it and married her. Now I have an electric bicycle that goes 20 mph tops. She won't ride that either. I find the thought of any of our children on a motorcycle terrifying.

A A Resident

Sun, Dec 2, 2012 : 1:44 p.m.

The repeal of the helmet law is so sad. Most motorcyclists were OK with wearing one when it was the law, but now it's easy to succumb to peer pressure not to wear one. When my wife rides her Harley to work, she takes that same route down North Territorial. We both wear full coverage helmets with the latest safety rating at all times. Sure, we may be dorks to some other motorcycle riders, but we don't care.

Bill Sloan

Sun, Dec 2, 2012 : 1:43 p.m.

Nothing was said about whether the young man's organs were made available for transplant. I hope that they were.

Craig Lounsbury

Sun, Dec 2, 2012 : 1:40 p.m.

"Both parents—divorced for some years, but close friends still—blame the state's new helmet law." I think that is misguided. The law didn't ban helmets it just made them optional. In any case my heart goes out to these folks. I can't imagine how hard it would be to lose 2 children.

A2comments

Sun, Dec 2, 2012 : 1:28 p.m.

A very sad story. However, the change in the law, which was a very bad idea, is not an issue here. "Though the new law says an operator must be certified for two years before going helmetless, Scott began riding without one." He chose to violate the law. The new law (which should never have been passed) says he has to wear a helmet. He made a decision which had awful consequences. "It was an accident," Karl Pohl says. "She'll have to live with the consequences of that. That's why people should wear their helmets. If you're wearing your helmet, people won't die and people won't have to deal with the consequences of having killed someone." Hopefully riders will listen to Mr.

alan

Sun, Dec 2, 2012 : 1:10 p.m.

I sold my motorcycle years ago after I realized that nothing that I did would help other drivers see me.

HB11

Sun, Dec 2, 2012 : 12:57 p.m.

Condolences to the family. I understand the family's grief and feel sorry for everyone involved. However, to solely blame the new helmet law is shortsighted. From the story: "Though the new law says an operator must be certified for two years before going helmetless, Scott began riding without one." I don't necessarily agree with the new no-helmet law, but the victim was a man able to make his own decisions.

John Counts

Sun, Dec 2, 2012 : 12:36 p.m.

And Arieswoman, the Pohl's wouldn't be suing Hamilton. Any litigation would be brought against either her insurance company, or if she wasn't sufficiently insured, Scott Pohl's own insurance company.

John Counts

Sun, Dec 2, 2012 : 12:33 p.m.

Angela Hamilton, the 18-year-old woman driving the Ford Explorer in the accident, has been charged with moving violation causing death, a misdemeanor that carries a maximum sentence of one year in jail and/or $2,000 in fines.

Billy

Sun, Dec 2, 2012 : 12:19 p.m.

I'd also like to note. Blaming this guy's death on him not wearing his helmet is EXACTLY like blaming a rape victim for dressing provocative.

Billy

Sun, Dec 2, 2012 : 12:15 p.m.

A: Sorry folks....the helmet wouldn't have helped much, if at all, in that kind of collision....listen to the doctors...they said it MIGHT have helped... B: What she commited is second degree manslaughter....also known as negligent homicide.... DRUNK DRIVERS THAT DONT KILL PEOPLE FACE STIFFER CHARGES THAN SHE DOES!!! Do NOT let someomone slide just because they're a "kid."

1bit

Sun, Dec 2, 2012 : 12:09 p.m.

A tragic story and a tragic loss. There are more stories like this - too many - since the needless repeal of the helmet law. Of all Governor Snyder's accomplishments, this will stand as a glaring mistake. I hope that next year our legislators will have the courage to look at the "data" (which is the unfortunate euphemism for dead neighbors, friends and relatives) and correct their error.

Arieswoman

Sun, Dec 2, 2012 : 11:58 a.m.

This is a terrible tragedy. But suing the young woman is in my opinion not the answer either. At 18 I doubt she has many assets either. He should have worn a helmet. That law to allow no helmets was a big mistake.