The thing I've never understood is the state law.....why require seat belts in cars but there's no requirement for a helmet on a motorcycle. Somehow this makes no sense to me, although I'd wear both even if there were no law.
Pretty simple actually. A seat belt keeps the driver in a position that he can maintain control or at least lessen the damage that is about to happen. You cant countersteer from the passengers seat and if you have ever been broadsided with out a belt on, thats where you end up. A car is a lot bigger than any bike, when it is out of control, there is a lot more bad that can happen to others. If you bounce off your bike, weather you brain gets scrambled or not, you are a soft, light projectile that will likely go low.