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?