It makes sense that there are a lot of motorcyclists in Upstate and Western New York because it’s an ideal area for bikers, with miles of scenic, meandering roads that are great for both long and short road trips . Because the universal helmet law applies in New York State, and all bikers are required to wear helmets, motorcycle accident injury rates are lower than they are in than states where helmets are not mandatory for all. Thanks to a new study by the Center For Disease Control, we also now know that NY State has more money in its budget because of its helmet law. Trading biker head injuries for cash-now that’s a good deal.
The CDC research focused on motorcycle accidents and the effects of helmets purely in terms of state budget. From 2008 to 2010 they surveyed biker accidents across the country in order to establish how much each state saves when motorcycle drivers and their passengers are wearing helmets, and the results are impressive.
According to the study, over $3 billion was saved in 2010 alone, with total costs saved due to helmet use ranging from $2.6 million in New Mexico to $394 million in California. Economic costs saved from helmet use per registered motorcycle ranged from $48 in New Mexico to $1,627 in North Carolina, with a median of $286. In Western and Upstate New York, the savings was approximately $650 per registered motorcycle, over twice the national average of savings.
