Maine lawmakers failed to enact a mandatory helmet law during this year’s session.

Some motorcycle riders will pay for that inaction with their lives.

Two studies released this week add new evidence to the case for making helmets mandatory for everyone. In 2000, Florida repealed its mandatory helmet law for riders older than 21. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety have been tracking the results.

Deaths are up. Hospital costs are up.

Since 2000, motorcycle fatalities are up 81 percent in the three-year period ending in 1999, 933 deaths versus 515 when helmets were compulsory, according to the NHTSA study. Even worse, deaths among younger drivers required to wear helmets has also increased because many are violating the law. Of those 21 years old and younger who have died since 2000, 45 percent were not wearing helmets. Those riders followed the bad example set by older riders who disregard the benefits of wearing proper safety equipment.

The results were backed up by the Insurance Industry, which found deaths were up 25 percent from 2001-02 from the previous two-year period.

On cost, the NHTSA study documented that hospital costs for those riders not wearing helmets during a crash soared from $21 million to $44 million in the 30 months after the change in the law.

None of this information is new. Studies conducted in other states that have liberalized helmet restrictions have found the same dramatic increases. The Preusser Research Group also found that fatalities increased in Kentucky and Louisiana after mandatory helmet laws were changed.

Opponents of helmet laws have a nifty slogan, “Let those who ride decide.” They like to be portrayed as the highway rebels, riding with the wind blowing through their hair. And they make exaggerated and baseless claims that helmets actually increase the risk to riders.

The evidence says otherwise.

If the costs of injured and killed riders fell solely upon the victim of the crash, perhaps it would be appropriate to let the individual have the freedom to make a choice. It’s not. Families are left mourning, and medical bills mount.

Ideally, riders would make the right decision and wear a helmet regardless of whether the law required it. Too many do not. So the job passes to the Legislature to compel the right decision.

Helmets save lives and benefit riders and nonriders alike. It’s past time for Maine to adopt a new helmet law.