Sadly, Tim Widmer wasn't even required to wear a helmet, since Iowa is one of only three states that doesn't require them. States that recently wrote helmet laws saw a substantial decrease in fatalities and head injuries. California reinstated its helmet law in 1992 and saw a 38 percent decrease in motorcycle fatalities, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Adding a helmet law to Iowa's books would prevent many other tragedies like the one on Friday. Laws aren't the only thing that prevent motorcycle deaths and injuries.
Responsible riding goes a long way in preventing fatalities and serious injuries.
Many of these riders don't realize the power of their machines. The super bikes that are popular with so many young men like Widmer are extremely light and extremely fast. These newer bikes are also very small, making it very difficult for automobile drivers to see them. Please, utilize the utmost care when driving motorcycles. When driving a car, be on the lookout for the smaller vehicles.