Arkansas Versus Tennessee Helmet Laws

Arkansas repealed its mandatory helmet law August 1, 1997 and has new statistics on the 10th year of its decision. Being raised in Arkansas and around cruiser style motorcycles, these statistics really were interesting in all aspects. Currently residing in Memphis (where there is a mandatory helmet law), I laugh every time I drive across the Memphis bridge into Arkansas. When the weather is that of a perfect Sunday cruise, I cross the Arkansas state line. On numerous occasions, probably 9 out of 10 times, I have seen motorcyclists pulled over on the side taking their helmets off. Sometimes I would laugh when I seen groups of men and cruisers all pulled over and tucking away their helmets.

I personally was for the repeal of the helmet law in Arkansas. I rode with many friends and family members and wanted that helmet gone. I didn't like my hair getting pulled, that heavy weight on my neck and shoulders, or to be hidden from everyone I passed. I was in Germany when this repeal came through, and I couldn't wait to get back home and cruise in style! When I got back to Arkansas I resumed my cruising styles, and it was phenomenally freeing to ride as just plain old me! I felt the wind through my hair, and everyone looked when we passed by. I was free! I never felt so alive!

Three weeks ago, I lost my best friend to a motorcycle accident in Arkansas. Reading an article on the Hell's Angels today and my Memphis love challenged me to review the statistics since the repeal of the helmet law in Arkansas versus the neighboring state of Tennessee. I have always believed that helmets were a matter of personal choice, personal right, and personal opinion. Today following the statistics and two recent situations, I have taken a new outlook into my opinion.

Arkansas claims that since the repeal in 1997 motorcycles registered in the state have risen from 47% to 78.2%. This is great for your motorcycle sales companies and the biker enthusiasm. Arkansas also claims that deaths rose within the first year from 18.5% to 31.6%. Arkansas has doubled their rider education courses and made it easier to get your bike. This has also helped the number of enthusiasts to grow. Insurance companies claim there is no scientific evidence that supports that these courses reduce motorcycle wrecks.

Tennessee claims that since 1997, motorcycle deaths have risen 127%. However, registered bikers only make up 2% of all registered vehicles. From personal experience, I know that a person could not count the amount of auto accidents in one single day in Memphis. They are continuous at all hours of the day. In the past year I have lived in Memphis, there has not been one day I have gone without driving and seeing a wreck. In addition to all the wrecks I have seen, I have only seen one involving a motorcycle. Tennessee says that a motorcycle is involved with only 0.4% of all wrecks.

Arkansas has its repeal of the helmet law, but the military in Arkansas has a quite different opinion. As a Army National Guard veteran, I have learned that if you are military and ride a bike, and let's say by chance get in a wreck, the government health insurance TriCare will NOT cover your injuries. God forbid you get killed in a motorcycle wreck without a helmet, the Service Members Group Life Insurance will NOT pay to your beneficiaries. Arkansas has a good population of military (Army, Air Force, Marines, and Navy) bases. The funny matter of this is most military members in Arkansas are aware of this law. Generally these are the only bikers with a helmet you pass.

Personally from the experience of living in Germany, I think car and truck drivers should be more aware of motorcycles. In Germany motorcycles had the right of way, and everyone was always aware of any around. In my years of being a bike enthusiast, I have seen many wrecks and usually they were because of unaware automobile drivers. The one wreck I have seen in Memphis was an unaware driver. If I had a say in it, I would bring some of the transportation laws and regulations to getting a driver's license from European countries to advance everyone of motorcycle awareness. I believe this is the reason for majority of the motorcycle accidents occur as it is.

A former football player for the Chicago Bears ran a stop sign years back and hit my mother and her husband while they were on a motorcycle. My mother had road rash all up and down her body from wearing a tank top and shorts. She never once mentioned a helmet to me growing up, but she never let me ride without proper leathers, pants, jackets, and boots. Maybe she didn't hit her head, I don't have a clue. I never will know her opinion on helmets because I left for Germany in 1997 and came home in 2001 for her death. My riding resumed after her death, and I still anxiously jumped on the back with my buds without a helmet. I trusted my drivers with my child's and my life. I knew they were aware of Arkansas drivers not paying attention to them, and they were never impaired or unaware while driving.

Adam Youngblood, my most trusted driver who had rode bikes since his birth practically, was my riding buddy. He had his cruiser set up how he wanted, the skull with red glowing eyes on the side, the ape hanger bars, the custom paint, and man this bike was his life. Three weeks ago, my son called me to inform me that he was killed in a motorcycle accident. I lost a part of me that day. My love and I began the talks of helmets and their purpose. He explained to me how the day he bought his brand new helmet, he went down and the helmet saved him from any damage. The scars on the helmet and the rips in his padded jacket showed me what could really happen if I rode unprotected. Friends say that Adam died because his girlfriend bought him a new bike, and his ape hangers weren't on it, otherwise he would have lived. I say driver awareness, he would have lived. A woman slammed on her brakes because she wasn't paying attention to a car turning in front of her. He rear ended her F250 truck. My love says a helmet would have saved him.

Maybe it is all of the above combined that people should know and learn. I know my opinion today is a helmet is a matter of caring about your personal life. Lack of regards to your safety of your body, is your opinion. Wear a helmet or don't wear a helmet. From that day on, I will always wear a helmet.

In loving memory
Adam Youngblood
My bud!