Letter: Safety first — at any cost

Editor, Daily News:

I just finished reading the May 28 Perspective story, "Fatal freedom."

I ride a motorcycle. I put about as many, if not more, miles on my bike than I do my car. When I leave my driveway, I'm wearing a helmet, protective clothing, gloves and boots — no exceptions.

It doesn't matter if the trip is to the store or cross-country.

It may be a false sense of security, but I feel I have peace of mind that I've protected myself as well as I can. Now I can focus my attention on the other drivers and road obstacles on my journeys.

I also believe other drivers notice me more and give me a little more space in traffic.

These are only my opinions. People should be allowed to act as smartly or as stupidly as they see fit.

The two things that upset me most about the article are the claim that helmets are effective only up to 13 or 14 mph, and Tim Burchett's statement: "You can make statistics say just about anything you want."

The other disturbing part was the Michigan License Beverage Association's support of a helmet law rollback. Motorcyclists not wearing helmets having a few drinks in Michigan's taverns will probably not only boost business for tourism, but also hospitals and mortuaries.

I hope the $1 billion a year that helmet rollback proponents say today's laws are costing Michigan in tourism is worth it.

Roger Bush , Naples