Holland Reporter

Michigan’s repel of its motorcycle helmet law has produced mixed results in terms of what was expected.

According to Michigan State Police, since the law was wiped away in 2012, the number of motorcycle-related deaths has increased by 23 percent while the numbers for those injured in crashes are down from 2,556 in 2011 to 2,160 last year.

As part of its monitoring, Michigan Capital Confidential reports that state police collect and coordinate crash and injury reports for study and observation. According to authorities, there were 134 motorcycle-related fatalities last year compared to 109 in the year before the repel took effect.

State data also shows the number of riders with motorcycle endorsements, or those that have completed a motorcycle safety course, has dipped since 2012 with some media outlets reporting that more than half of the motorcyclists who were involved in crashes were not legally licensed to ride.