Motorcycle Helmets Save Lives? Who'da thunk?

[flatsixes]

Quiet today, and nothing quite stirs the pot like a helmet law study....

During 2008–2010, a total of 14,283 motorcyclists were killed in crashes, among whom 6,057 (42%) were not wearing a helmet. In the 20 states with a universal helmet law, 739 (12%) fatally injured motorcyclists were not wearing a helmet, compared with 4,814 motorcyclists (64%) in the 27 states with partial helmet laws and 504 (79%) motorcyclists in the three states without a helmet law.

I rode motorcycles for more than thirty years before I finally hung up my pegs about 10 years ago. Came around a blind curve on a country road and found myself staring into the panicked faces of 3 teenagers in a Ford pickup - in my lane. Luck was with me that day. I beat the devil with only a busted collar bone and whole lotta road rash. It wasn't even my worst wreck, but I promised the wife that it would be my last. Funny thing is that, although I started my combo Flying Wallenda/Chinese Tumbler act down the asphalt at about 65 m.p.h., there wasn't a<i>scratch</i> to be found on my helmet when I rolled to shambling heap some 30-40 yards later. Like I said: Lucky.

I liked to ride hard, and I hated bugs in my teeth, so yeah, I would have worn the lid whether or not the law required. But I'd prefer to have a choice - even if I never use it.

What say you?

[Sailor Steve]

The same. I think anyone who rides without a helmet is a fool. I also think anyone trying to legislate someone else's safety is a tyrant. Here in Utah we have a law requiring helmets for anyone under 18. As an adult you get to make your own decisions, smart or foolish. I always wear a helmet, but I like Utah.

[Jimbuna]

Never had the option in the UK because wearing a helmet is mandatory and if I had the choice I would still wear one......been to too many serious injury and deaths involvong bikes during my time as a police officer.

[em2nought]

People that choose not to wear helmets really need to stop making "me" see those "look twice for motorcycles" bumper stickers. Take care of yourself, and I'll take care of myself.

[Stealhead]

Originally Posted by em2nought

People that choose not to wear helmets really need to stop making "me" see those "look twice for motorcycles" bumper stickers. Take care of yourself, and I'll take care of myself.

The smart motorcycle rider should be the epitome of defensive driving/riding and should expect other vehicles not to see them.

[Herr-Berbunch]

Hitting a bee with a helmet on (the person, not the bee) at 70 mph is bad enough, imagine hitting one without!

[Sailor Steve]

Originally Posted by Stealhead

The smart motorcycle rider should be the epitome of defensive driving/riding and should expect other vehicles not to see them.

Absolutely. Whether on a bicycle or a motorcycle I live by the rule that I'm invisible. Nobody ever sees you, and if someone does it's probably because he's out to get you anyway. If anyone really things drivers should be better at watching out for bikes, just look at how many people pull out in front of a bus or semi without noticing something that big bearing down on them.

Many years ago I was riding in the middle lane of a street that was three lanes each way. Up ahead I noticed a car waiting to pull out into traffic, and a car in the slow lane just ahead of me. Thinking I might be screwed if the waiting car pulled out and the guy just ahead suddenly dodged right into me. So I signalled and pulled over into the fast lane - just a second before the car ahead and to the right did exactly the same thing, obviously taking exactly the same precaution. At the next light the guy who had been behind me pulled up alongside and said "Man, you're good! How did you know that guy was going to change lanes before he did?"

I shook my head and said "I didn't. I just imagined what would happen if he did." You have to do that if you're going to drive a two-wheeled vehicle with no armor at all in traffic filled with steel monsters weighing a ton or more.

[Herr-Berbunch]

Originally Posted by Stealhead

The smart motorcycle rider should be the epitome of defensive driving/riding and should expect other vehicles not to see them.

Not just bikes, but cars too. I don't know what the cars are like in A Merica, but here in Europe they're all striving to get a good rating in crash testing. This means the A-pillar (between windscreen and door) is becoming thicker with each new model. In my seven year old car already I can not see a whole car about 15 metres away at a certain angle. People just don't know to move their head to double-check what's hiding behind it as they are so set in their ways.

[Ducimus]

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

The same. I think anyone who rides without a helmet is a fool. I also think anyone trying to legislate someone else's safety is a tyrant. Here in Utah we have a law requiring helmets for anyone under 18. As an adult you get to make your own decisions, smart or foolish. I always wear a helmet, but I like Utah.

Yeah i've noticed that. No helmet law. Took me by surprise really, i couldn't beleive there wasn't one. Im fine with that, like some old flag/banner i saw in a bar many years ago, "Let those who ride decide".

That said, i think not wearing a helmet is incredibly stupid. I think about the rider, "what, you think your special or something? You think It wont happen to you?" I'll wager that if every motorcyclist was made to view as many accident scene photo's as I have, they'd think twice about not wearing a helmet.

Concrete and steel do not give. Spill your bike, and your head can crack open like and egg, throwing the contents of said metaphorical egg all over the road. Serious as a heart attack, if anyone wants to see what their head will look like, just throw an egg at a street like your trying to skip a stone across a pond.

[McBeck]

I agree that adults have the experience to make the choice for themselves.

However, you are also rolemodels.
Imagine that its your own son who has the choice and half the adults do not wear helmets. Wouldn't you wish that all bikers wore helmets?

[Sailor Steve]

Originally Posted by McBeck

I agree that adults have the experience to make the choice for themselves.

However, you are also rolemodels.
Imagine that its your own son who has the choice and half the adults do not wear helmets. Wouldn't you wish that all bikers wore helmets?

I do wish that all bikers wore helmets. I also wish that all drivers wore seatbelts. That doesn't give me the right to force them to.

I also agree about the "role models" part. But parents have always said "Do as I say, not as I do", and always will. The line has to be drawn somewhere. The problem is that there are many lines, and very few people can agree on where any of them should be.

[McBeck]

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

I also agree about the "role models" part. But parents have always said "Do as I say, not as I do", and always will.

If that will not change, then we will not learn.
Kids are imitating us and we have to set the bar high, so they also do so.
The whole "Do as I say, not as I do" is just another way of not taking responsibility for your job as parrent.

i dont get it, how can a law that protects the safety the general public who drives motorcycles impair the freedom of choice?

you can not interpretate your rights to the extreme, its like saying a speed limit near a school impaires your freedom of choice.

freedom of choice is about being able to plan your life as an individual

[Sailor Steve]

Originally Posted by nonverba

i dont get it, how can a law that protects the safety the general public who drives motorcycles impair the freedom of choice?

you can not interpretate your rights to the extreme, its like saying a speed limit near a school impaires your freedom of choice.

freedom of choice is about being able to plan your life as an individual

Totally wrong. We make laws to protect ourselves from each other. The school speed limits protects our children from other drivers. The helmet law attempts to protect us from ourselves. You're right: Where freedom is concerned, you don't get it.

You also don't understand rights. I have the right to do anything I want, as long is it doesn't infringe anyone else's right to do the same.

[McBeck]

So the concern for field of view is greater than having the most important and fragile part of your anatomy unprotected, while driving something as powerful as a motorcycle balancing on 2 wheels?

OK...