Re: you're clouding the issue.
My personal opinion is that motorcycles are just as safe as cars if you pay attention and wear good equipment. Saying she probably would have been safer if she drove is fine, but she didn't, she rode or was a passenger on the bike.
Had she been wearing a helmet she most likely would not have suffered as bad a head injury. You know that as well as I do. Maybe here injuries were internal, or didn't involve her head at all, maybe this guy is making up this sad tale to prove a point, who knows, maybe they were all drunk.
I personaly support helmet laws, and seat belt laws and I think they should ban tobacco as well. I know that's not a real popular position to take, and I know you're an experianced rider and a mature adult, but the fact is there's alot of stupid f**ks around who don't know what they're doing. When they tear them selves up on bikes we all suffer from the fallout.
If they kept themselves off bikes and stuck to golf or tennis or something, then fine we don't need helmet laws because were all responsible enough to make a choice. Since they don't and since we get enough bad press as it is, something as common sense as a wearing helmet is a small consession to make.
You can always stick your head out the window or buy a 10 speed if you want the wind in your hair