The reported 80% increase in motorcycle deaths since helmet law repeal in FL (7/1/2000) is misleading because it conveniently ignores the increase in the number of motorcycles in the state.
As it happens, Florida's repeal took place during the period of explosive growth motorcycling has seen in the past decade. And Florida has seen even more growth than the rest of the US, with registrations doubling between 1998 and 2004.
This chart, shows the rather unremarkable trend in FL motorcycle deaths per 10,000 registrations from 1993 to 2004. I believe that some of the increase since 1999 is due to helmet law repeal, but most of the "80%" is due to the increasing popularity fo motorcycling, not to a disproportionate increase in crashes. (Chart compiled from NHTSA and FL Dept. of HS&MV data.)
For info, here are some details on the reported 20 deaths, compiled from various news media sources. Other than the bike-vs-bike crashes, they seem to be fairly typical of motorcycle crashes that might happen anywhere. But with a few hundred thousand bikers in and around Daytona Beach for Bike Week, they happened there instead.
- Jody Driggers: Daytona Beach, 3/3, noon.
Unhelmeted 39yo GA rider was killed when hit while stopped at light by 74yo Minnesotan SUV driver.
- Dean K. Ruland: Bunnell, 3/5, 4:00pm.
65yo Harley rider from NY was killed when he hit van driven by 32yo local woman who pulled into his path from cross-street.
- Louis Polk: Ormond-by-the-Sea, 3/5, 7:30pm.
44yo Triumph rider from Daytona Beach was killed when he hit oncoming van that crossed centerline after driver experienced a medical problem.
- Craig Arthur Brooks: Port Orange, 3/5, 9:30pm.
23yo Suzuki rider was killed when he lost control in a curve and hit oncoming pickup head-on.
- Robert Lee
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and Janet Solomon Weisbach (Welsbach?): Palm Coast, 3/5, 3:30pm.
Unhelmeted 41yo rider from Boca Raton and his 37yo helmeted wife were both killed when their motorcycle hit pickup driven by 22yo local man who pulled into motorcycles path from cross street.
- Rocio Piccirillo: St. Augustine, 3/5, night.
Helmeted 21yo Jacksonville woman, passenger on motorcycle ridden by 25yo man, was killed when the motorcycle was rear-ended on the freeway by SUV as 37yo driver with suspended license changed lanes.
- Richard Germain: Ocala, 3/8, 2:30pm.
21yo Honda rider from NH, after being passed by truck, attempted to re-pass but lost control and was killed when he fell from the bike and was hit by oncoming Gold Wing.
- David Batson: Daytona Beach, 3/8, 1:30pm.
Helmeted 60yo Cocoa Beach rider was killed when he hit oncoming pickup driven by 64yo local man who turned left in front of the motorcycle.
- Lawrence M. Lokatys: Palm Coast, 3/8, night.
48yo rider from CT was killed when he lost control in a curve, ran off the road, and landed in a marsh.
- Jerry C. Bolding: Dayona Beach, 3/9.
Unhelmeted 56yo Harley rider from SC was killed when he rear-ended another motorcycle slowing for traffic.
- Robert Earl Cameron: New Smyrna, 3/9, 9:30pm.
Unhelmeted 47yo rider from Edgewater with wife as passenger pulled out from side street in front of another motorcycle, ridden by local off-duty LEO. The two bikes collided, and the first rider was then hit and killed by passing pickup. His wife suffered minor injuries, and the LEO was critically injured.
- Joseph Poda: Barberville, 3/10, 9:00am.
Helmeted 38yo PA man was killed when he collided with left-turning Stanley Steemer van.
- Jason P. Perron: Apopka, 3/10, 3:00am.
Helmeted 23yo Suzuki rider from Apopka was killed when he lost control in curve, hit curb and guardrail.
- David H. Hudson: Daytona Beach, 3/10, 11:30am.
Helmeted 63yo rider from Lake Wales on 3-wheeler was killed when rear-ended while stopped at light by SUV driven by 44yo local woman. The trike hit two other motorcycles, but the occupants were apparently not seriously injured.
- Alvin Palmer: Port Orange, 3/10, 8:00pm.
Unhelmeted 59yo Harley rider from VA crossed centerline and hit oncoming Harley ridden by another unhelmeted rider who survived.
- Walter D. Fliss: Brevard County, 3/10, 11:00pm.
51yo rider from St. Cloud on Harley with just 72.5mi on the odo was killed when he lost control in a curve and skidded into construction barrier.
- Sanford Highsmith: Seminole County, 3/11, 3:30am.
43yo Harley rider from Orlando was killed when he drifted into median and crashed in culvert.
- Brian Arthur Rooke: Daytona Beach, 3/11, 3:30pm.
44yo Honda Shadow rider from Palm Beach was killed when he lost control on a freeway onramp and hit guardrail.
- Bruce Thalheimer: Ormond Beach, 3/11, 6:50pm.
While passing truck, helmeted 51yo rider from Naples was killed when he hit oncoming motorcycle.