Do you wear a helmet? Your choice?

[challman]

:agree:I always worn my helmet! To me it's a matter of common sense. But, I believe it's YOUR choice as long as you foot the bill. We should not have to pay for your choice when you decide to go without a helmet.

What about your choice when you decide to smoke, or eat too much or not exersize or ride a bicycle (insanely dangerous on the road) and so on.

This we shouldn't have to pay has been created by people who would take your freedoms away.

If it had been proven that riding with a helmet is actually significantly safer, all states would have the law. There are actually good arguments against helmet safety. One of the main being that a helmet is only rated to protect you up to 15 mph... Did you know that?

Did you know that the statistics they rattle off about deaths increasing whenever a state gets rid of it's helmet laws are made not so significant because there is a huge increase in ridership wherever they do so which actually explains the increase in deaths?

Do some research on both sides just don't believe the side you think you want to be true

 

[That Guy]

State troopers tell The Post-Standard of Syracuse that 55-year-old Philip A. Contos of Parish, N.Y., was driving a 1983 Harley Davidson with a group of bikers who were protesting helmet laws by not wearing helmets.

Troopers say Contos hit his brakes and the motorcycle fishtailed. The bike spun out of control, and Contos toppled over the handlebars.

He was pronounced dead at a hospital.

Troopers say Contos would have likely survived if he had been wearing a helmet.

I work in medicine, we call those guys organ donors.
Its ok if you dont care about yourself. Think about your loved ones coming to identify what used to be a person....you dont look cool without it then.

 

[DaGrlz]

Yes!

and here's the reason why!

http://www.spyderlovers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=27065

 

[pitbull]

What about all the problems with helments...lack of visabilty, hearing, balance????? I understand all the plus's...but there is some down sides too. It should be your right, next it will be padded suits and so on. Its a bike, not the safest thing any of us have done. But we choose to ride any ways. Lets not get to high minded, and guilt trip and look down on thous who don't belive in them.......its all in the eye of the ryder....we don't need more laws!

 

[CanAmMick]

What about your choice when you decide to smoke, or eat too much or not exersize or ride a bicycle (insanely dangerous on the road) and so on.

This we shouldn't have to pay has been created by people who would take your freedoms away.

If it had been proven that riding with a helmet is actually significantly safer, all states would have the law. There are actually good arguments against helmet safety. One of the main being that a helmet is only rated to protect you up to 15 mph... Did you know that?

Did you know that the statistics they rattle off about deaths increasing whenever a state gets rid of it's helmet laws are made not so significant because there is a huge increase in ridership wherever they do so which actually explains the increase in deaths?

Do some research on both sides just don't believe the side you think you want to be true

I don't smoke and I still exercise. My choice!! If you want to ride without a helmet it's your choice, but I should not have to split the cost for taking care of you after wards.

If you are involved in an accident is a helmet going to save your life. Maybe, maybe not. It all depend on a lot of factors. Safety equipment does have a purpose, and generally does help. We could go on and on about the subject of wearing helmets. It's been debated over and over again and will probably be for many years.

My choice is to wear safety gear. It's you choice on what you decide to do.. Just don't expect me to foot the bill.

I believe I can find as many resources on the benefits of wearing helmets as you can find against it.:2thumbs: Sure am glad we all have our own choices!!!!!!

 

[Bob Denman]

What about all the problems with helments...lack of visabilty, hearing, balance????? ...we don't need more laws!

:hun: Your peripheral vision doesn't wrap far enough around to the sides to allow you to see our own helmet's edges. (I do agree with you that more laws won't solve anything... :thumbup

 

[ARtraveler]

I always wear my helmet--law or no law.

No helmet law for drivers of mc in AK--but passengers are required to wear one---no idea on the rationale for that.

 

[pitbull]

:hun: Your peripheral vision doesn't wrap far enough around to the sides to allow you to see our own helmet's edges. (I do agree with you that more laws won't solve anything... :thumbup

:yikes: To me I see alot better with out one, but thats just a matter of personal "VIEWS":roflblack:....Just saying it should be about freedom. And all this expecting other to pay....isn't there laws for that too...Insurance and so on. Just say we shouldn't put our personal views, and guilt trips onto others, thats why this is America.....freedom to choose. If you want to great, if you don't to don't. Friends its a choice, shouldn't be another law.

 

[BIKEMIKE]

HELMETS

Remenber it's not the fall that gets you it's the sudden stop. Helmets by be rated at 15 MPH but in 1999 on I40 N.C. and a dog running in my lane I went down at 65 MPH. Untill the next day I did not know that my helmet hit the road the mark it left was a large one. Without the helmet I don't know if I would have been able to get up and walk off the interstate before the traffic ran me over I rolled straight down the center and stopped stood up and looked at all the lights coming at me. As soon as I found grass the traffic passed me no one knew there had been a accident. so I beleive the helmet did it's job.

 

[ElkSpyder]

I've ridden with a helmet since 1973 when Wisconsin required them. Had my first bike accident in 1973, was run off the road by an oncoming car in my lane. Hit a farmers stone fence and flipped over the bike and myself. The helmet was cracked across the forehead. Believe in my heart I would not have gotten up from that hit without the helmet.

Unless your state requires a helmet it is the riders choice. I chose to wear one, I don't judge the rider who does not.

Keep the government out of the discussion. We all pay (insurance rates) for ALL the costs payed out by the insurance industry.

 

[Smokinspyder]

i usually alway s rock a full face lid . not really for crashing but I dont like bugs smacking off my head lol i got nailed on my helmet one day by a secada ??? I think i spelled that right it knocked my head back and i was wearing a lid imagine if i wasnt ? damn i would love to have seen video of that

 

[StriperKing]

The Pitbull Buggy said it best. I wear one sometimes and sometimes I dont. To many people think the Gov. should make all our choices for us or for those who others feel cant do it for them selves. First its helmets then there are those who think bikes wre not safe enough for the road so lets make them happy, oh ya lets not forget .about the mopeds, just not safe enough. Bottom line is this is the best country in the world because we do still have choices even if they do not make the best sence to everyone.

This will make some very angree on here but if you think putting a price on a freedom is OK well then...........You can do that with most any freedom. When you made the choice to get on a bike with cars and big trucks running 70 right next to you then you already made an unsafe decision. At what level you feel you need to go to feel safe after that should be up to YOU! There are people right now trying to get bikes off the road at night. Be carefull just how close you let them get or the next safety rule will be one that takes something away you feel is OK.

Keep America free please. Yes some of us will die because of our decisions. Its OK we know the risk going in and made our own choice.

Honestly after reading what a few have posted in the past I dont think this is for you and that is OK but dont come in to the bike world and feel you know what is best for the rest. Sory up front if I seem a bit touchy on this one but for me it is about freedom. I hold that above all else and get very emotional when people talk about taking it away. Anyway have a great day and be safe.nojoke

 

[challman]

Remenber it's not the fall that gets you it's the sudden stop. Helmets by be rated at 15 MPH but in 1999 on I40 N.C. and a dog running in my lane I went down at 65 MPH. Untill the next day I did not know that my helmet hit the road the mark it left was a large one. Without the helmet I don't know if I would have been able to get up and walk off the interstate before the traffic ran me over I rolled straight down the center and stopped stood up and looked at all the lights coming at me. As soon as I found grass the traffic passed me no one knew there had been a accident. so I beleive the helmet did it's job.

This is probably a prime example of a helmet saving ones life. I have never argued that they never do. In fact I think you are probably somewhat safer wearing a helmet. I personally always wear one when it is raining. BUT There are clearly (by statistics) examples of people who weren't wearing a helmet and whos head did NOT hit an object they were flying by because they did NOT wear a helmet thus preventing neck injury and potential death. The cost of caring for a quadrapalegic is little different from someone who is comatose, and the comatose are unplugged eventually where the Quad just keeps going and going.

To all of you who say... but I shouldn't have to share the expense of taking care of you if you are injured because of not wearing a helmit I think you missed my point. Do you live in the city? You have a much higher chance of getting injured in a criminal activity. Should we make living in the city illegal?
Are you physically active and not doing risky activities (I know that that isn't true or you wouldn't be on this board) Then should you get a tax break? If so are you ready for someone to come into your life and make sure that you are not doing anything risky? What if they find you have a genetic propensity for cancer or heart disease? Should you pay more tax's? Should we kick you out of the hospital when you land there? What if you are walking along and get distracted by some Babe walking along.. the street, and get hit by a car. Am I expected to pay part of you medical expenses because you can't keep your labido under control... if this kind of thing is permitted you can rest assured that many if not most people would find themselves uninsurable.

We have had many many soldiers die to protect YOUR freedom...
Don't give it up lightly and don't take other's away from them.

Think think think think think

Quit quoting that Politically correct junk without thinking

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. This is why our political system is great, we get to vote. More states do not require helmets than do... What does that say to you... We better get busy making sure people don't engage in ANY dangerous activities... Or does it say that in general Americans still feel freedom is important.

 

[Bob Denman]

A lot of folks seem to be worrying about freedom here...
That's a good thing; once it's lost it never finds its way back home! :gaah:
From a practical standpoint... Making the folks who want to become organ donors pay for their own injuries and not burden society... never happen!
First of all the actuaries have already added their body count into the mortality tables so they've already been counted and you've already been charged... :shocked: Once again; As soon as the camel's nose is under the tent flap you can't stop the mess! :shocked:
Our society; for whatever reason, seems to want to spread all the bad around equally. That way we get to suffer with the idiots too...
Soooo... helmet usage won't lower your health insurance rates :cus:, but it might let you live to fight another day! :thumbup:
Smoking, drinking and fatness... we all need a few vices to throw overboard when the sawbones gives us "the longface"... :roflblack:

 

[pitbull]

The Pitbull Buggy said it best. I wear one sometimes and sometimes I dont. To many people think the Gov. should make all our choices for us or for those who others feel cant do it for them selves. First its helmets then there are those who think bikes wre not safe enough for the road so lets make them happy, oh ya lets not forget .about the mopeds, just not safe enough. Bottom line is this is the best country in the world because we do still have choices even if they do not make the best sence to everyone.

This will make some very angree on here but if you think putting a price on a freedom is OK well then...........You can do that with most any freedom. When you made the choice to get on a bike with cars and big trucks running 70 right next to you then you already made an unsafe decision. At what level you feel you need to go to feel safe after that should be up to YOU! There are people right now trying to get bikes off the road at night. Be carefull just how close you let them get or the next safety rule will be one that takes something away you feel is OK.

Keep America free please. Yes some of us will die because of our decisions. Its OK we know the risk going in and made our own choice.

Honestly after reading what a few have posted in the past I dont think this is for you and that is OK but dont come in to the bike world and feel you know what is best for the rest. Sory up front if I seem a bit touchy on this one but for me it is about freedom. I hold that above all else and get very emotional when people talk about taking it away. Anyway have a great day and be safe.nojoke

:cheers: you sir are right the man!

 

[Yazz]

Texas is a helmet optional state. Everybody down here respects the other rider's personal choice as to what they wear on their noggin.
In Texas, in order to ride without a helmet, you have to have insurance.

Maybe this will settle down some of the more riled of y'all.

If you are in a motorcycle accident and don't have a helmet on..

- There's a chance your insurance won't pay because your were engaging in a dangerous pastime.

- If you die, some companies will not hand over your pension and death benefits to your family.

I am so surprised how judgmental some of y'all are! A fellow brother-in-the-wind died protesting for his personal rights and all you can do is bicker about laws? Its not like they'll make it illegal to wear a helmet anytime soon.

C'mon! Its a beautiful evening... turn off the 'puter and lets ryde!:2thumbs:

 

[wyliec]

Texas is a helmet optional state. Everybody down here respects the other rider's personal choice as to what they wear on their noggin.
In Texas, in order to ride without a helmet, you have to have insurance.

Maybe this will settle down some of the more riled of y'all.

If you are in a motorcycle accident and don't have a helmet on..

- There's a chance your insurance won't pay because your were engaging in a dangerous pastime.

- If you die, some companies will not hand over your pension and death benefits to your family.

I am so surprised how judgmental some of y'all are! A fellow brother-in-the-wind died protesting for his personal rights and all you can do is bicker about laws? Its not like they'll make it illegal to wear a helmet anytime soon.

C'mon! Its a beautiful evening... turn off the 'puter and lets ryde!:2thumbs:

:thumbup: The voice of reason.

 

[johnnyg]

INTERESTING that your response was always and yet you attached pic shows a rider with none on... Haha

The picture was taken right after I purchased my RS and I was sitting in the lot not driving it it down the rode. As you see in the picture below riding with johnnyg I have my helmet on.

 

[effgjamis]

I totally agree.... there is way to much gov meddling in our lives when there are many things they should be doing instead!

I agree, however, we all know that mama Gov wants to protect us.. :roflblack::roflblack:

Now a serious moment, here is a bit of info you all may be interested in regardless how you feel about the law intervention...

http://www.iihs.org/laws/helmetusecurrent.aspx

 

[scudrunner]

In Texas, in order to ride without a helmet, you have to have insurance.

Actually, that was turned over in the last legislature session, went into law Sep 2009. Used to be you had to have something like a $10000 insurance in order to ride helmetless, but not any more.
I guess they figured that $10,000 wouldn't even cover one day in ICU after cracking open your head, so it wasn't worth it.
Remember, laws are created to regulate people when people won't regulate themselves. You can't legislate common sense.