PITTSBURGH -- Thursday was the two-year anniversary of a motorcycle crash that seriously injured Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.

He was on his motorcycle when a car collided with his motorcycle near the Armstrong tunnels.

He was not wearing a helmet and broke his jaw and nose.

On this anniversary, the results of a motorcycle helmet study was released.

University of Pittsburgh researchers found a big jump in head injury deaths and hospitalizations since the repeal of the Pennsylvania helmet law in 2003.

Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh's Center for Injury Research found helmet use dropped from 82 percent to 52 percent after the law was repealed.

It also found head injury deaths rose more than 30 percent.

Hank Weiss, one of the researchers, said, "It's very clear the repeal of the helmet law has caused increased deaths and injuries among motorcyclists in Pennsylvania."

Adjusting for an increase in motorcycle registration, the study found that between 2004 and 2005 deaths from motorcycle-related head injuries increased 32 percent and head- related hospitalizations were up 42 percent.

This study differs from others because researchers looked at much more specific data.

Weiss said , "What we did was look at the death certificate data that had information about the body part injured from the coroner's reports. We targeted specifically on the head. It's much better for looking for the effectiveness (of helmets) that's designed to only have an impact on head injuries."

Ann Erny is a physician's assistant in UPMC's neurosurgery department.

She's been riding motorcycles for 27 years and always wears a helmet.

She never had an accident until April.

Erny stopped behind a car waiting to make a left turn, but the car behind her didn't stop.

It crashed into her.

Erny said, "I was thrown off the bike I bounced off the hood of the van, then I hit the ground flat on my back, my head hit the ground."

Erny was wearing a full face helmet and padded jacket.

She believes the helmet saved her life.

"The way the scrape marks are on my helmet. The way I bashed my head on the pavement, I would probably be in rehab, if I was still alive. I really believe my helmet and jacket made a huge difference, if not outright saved my life," Erny said.

An attempt to re-instate the law is not getting much traction in Harrisburg.

Democratic state Rep. Dan Frankel introduced a bill last year, but so far it's going nowhere fast.

Frankel said, "People need to understand this is not an issue about individual choice because somebody's individual choice has implications beyond their own actions. It has implications for the rest of the commonwealth. My colleagues need to take notice of this. We made a mistake. We need to reinstate the helmet law."

But he's not optimistic about anything changing soon.

"The lobby for motorcycle riders is very strong. They're omnipresent in Harrisburg. They even got to our governor," Frankel said.

Until a change is made in Harrisburg, Weiss said , "We need to encourage riders to do the smart thing and to wear their helmets."

Stephan Zurl, a representative for the motorcycle lobby, The Alliance of Bikers Aimed Toward Education (ABATE) , said the group works hard to educate riders on safety.

He said this is an issue about freedom of choice and said the state law wasn't repealed, it was modified.

Zurl said there is still a helmet law that requires riders younger than 21 to wear a helmet.

Helmet uses is optional for riders 21 and older who have been licensed to ride for two years or have finished an approved safety course.

ABATE raises money so riders can take safety courses for free.

Zurl emphasized that one fatality is too many whether the rider is wearing a helmet or not.