Riding a motorcycle can be a fun and exciting hobby. With gas prices near record highs, it can also be a very economical way to get around. Unfortunately, it can also be dangerous. In the spring of 2006, my brother suffered third-degree burns on both legs when the motorcycle he was riding was hit from behind by a straight truck. He wasn't wearing a helmet at the time of the accident, and to this day I have no idea how he lived. He was lucky to have survived, but many others are not. To protect motorcyclists, laws should require all motorcyclists to wear helmets, as statistics indicate that this prevents serious injuries which in turn lead to economic hardship for society. Motorcyclists say that whether or not to wear a motorcycle helmet is a personal choice. and universal helmet laws, laws that require all riders to wear helmets, are a violation of their civil rights. In cases against states with universal helmet laws, the high courts were divided. Some states have ruled that universal helmet laws are unconstitutional, such as Illinois and Michigan. In other states, such as Massachusetts and Florida, courts have upheld the law (Marian and Bayer 210-211). Certainly, personal choice is something to take into consideration, however, concerns about personal safety and the safety of others should outweigh personal choice in this matter. Another argument against wearing a motorcycle helmet is that some motorcyclists insist that wearing a helmet limits vision and hearing and puts the rider in danger. However, a 1994 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) study concluded exactly the opposite. Study results indicate that wearing a helmet while riding neither increases nor decreases the cyclist's ability to...... middle of paper ......t, A. James and A .Scott McKnight. “The Effects of Motorcycle Helmets on Vision and Hearing.” National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. United States Department of Transportation, February 1994. Web. October 29, 2013. “Motorcycles: Helmets and anti-lock brakes make driving less dangerous. » Road safety research and communications. Insurance Institute for Highway Safety Loss Data Institute. October 2013. Web. October 29, 2013. Naumann, Rebecca B. and Ruth A. Shults. “Helmet use among motorcyclists killed in crashes and cost savings associated with national motorcycle helmet laws – United States, 2008-2010.” MMWR: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report 61.23 (2012): 425-30. Premier Academic Research. Internet. November 1, 2013. “2011 Road Safety Data.” » National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. United States Department of Transportation, May 2013. Web. October 29. 2013.