What an amazing little girl, to be able to stand up in front of her class and say that. That's such a sad story.

I used to sell motorcycle gear and accessories, and was a trained helmet fitter. In my state, a DOT-rated helmet is required when operating a motorcycle, but I know there are a lot of states out there that have more lax helmet laws.

I don't own a motorcycle, but after some of the accidents I have seen, I will never, ever ride my bicycle without a helmet. I'm so sorry that this little girl and others like her have lost a family member under these circumstances.

I couldn't believe the number of people who wanted to get away with the "bare minimum", not realizing that while they were willing to spend thousands of dollars on a motorcycle, they wouldn't spend a few hundred dollars on a high quality helmet that could save their life, or even just their ability to operate said motorcycle. Customers used to bring in their smashed up helmets after an accident, and from the look on their faces they hadn't really realized how much they needed their helmets until they needed their helmets. They are not just accessories.