Helmet laws

[gjco]

Hey Lamonster do you think that we could put a link to this or something like this on the home page so those of us that travel from state to state will beable to have it for reference. I found this one at www.ironhorsehelmets.com
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State Motorcycle Riders Covered by Helmet LawAlabamaAll RidersAlaska17 yrs. and youngerArizona17 yrs. and youngerArkansas17 yrs. and youngerCaliforniaAll RidersColoradono helmet use lawsConnecticut17 yrs. and youngeDelaware18 yrs. and youngeD.C.All RidersFlorida20 yrs. and youngerGeorgiaall ridersHawaii17 yrs. and youngerIdaho17 yrs. and youngerIllinois17 yrs. and youngerIndiana17 yrs. and younger2 Iowano helmet use lawsKansas17 yrs. and youngerKentucky20 yrs. and youngerLousianaall ridersMaineall riders Marylandall riders Massachusettsall riders Michiganall riders Minnesota17 yrs. and youngerMississippiall riders Missouriall riders Montana18 yrs. and youngerNebraskaall riders Nevadaall riders New Hampshire17 yrs. and youngerNew Jerseyall ridersNew Mexico17 yrs. and younger New Yorkall ridersNorth Carolinaall ridersNorth Dakota17 yrs. and younger Ohio17 yrs. and younger Oklahoma17 yrs. and younger Oregonall ridersPennsylvania21 yrs. and youngerRhode Island20 yrs. and younger South Carolina20 yrs. and youngerSouth Dakota17 yrs. and youngerTennesseeall ridersTexas20 yrs. and youngerUtah17 yrs. and youngerVermontall ridersVirginiaall ridersWashingtonall ridersWest Virginiaall ridersWisconsin17 yrs. and youngerWyoming18 yrs. and younger
just so that everyone knows this is not the whole thing.

 

[Roaddog2]

Hopefully BRP will come up with yearly road atlas similar to what H.O.G. does to H.O.G. members with updated rules and regs for bikes and :spyder:member since patches and pins ......:thumbup:

 

[NancysToy]

The AMA (American Motorcyclist Association) offers a similar database with all applicable laws. http://www.amadirectlink.com/legisltn/laws.asp You do not need to be a member to access it.
-Scotty

 

[TJ_Spyder]

No need for this. I can't imagine not wearing a helmet after I had a 20mph dirt bike accident with no helmet and ended up with 80 stitches in my head and 4 screws in my neck. Oh yeah and the 4 months of rehab to learn how to walk again wasn't much fun either.

I am pro choice though, as long as you choose to wear one. :cheers:

 

[IMRU3]

I agree. Better safe than sorry regardless what every state in the map says. I have taken care of people with spinal cord injuries and head traumas and most never fully recover from their injuries. Learned a lot from MSF. Plus, I got no nine lives.

 

[spyderme]

What was the old Bell saying "if you have a $10 head wear a $10 helmet"
What does that mean with no helmet ....LOL.

Good thing they're compulsory in Oz.

Brain damaged people in Hospitals certainly doesn't help convince politicians that motorcycles, scooters, Spyders etc are viable transport that should be promoted not hindered at every opportunity.

Just my 10c (8 cents allowed for Oz currency devaluation)

 

[retread]

I've had discussions with people here in Indiana about helmets. I've heard stories about how "those things can KILL you", my comeback generally is "so why do they wear them in competition?" I've been riding over 52 years, NEVER without a helmet.

 

[gjco]

It is your right to have your opinion and I will fight for you to have that right. but it is still america and it should be our choice to choose and not forced to wear them. I was not tell people they should or shouldnt wear them I was just asking if it was possable to have a link on here for the laws. I know alot of people spend a lot of time on here planing trips and talking about trips they are going to take so why not have all the information about the places they might want to go. A little back ground about myself I was a firefighter for 10 years in two different states one with helmet laws and one without so I have seen both sides of this and still beleave it should be a personal choice.

 

[Smylinacha]

I rarely wear my seatbelt, but I always wear my helmet.

 

[bone crusher]

actually...

It's not a matter of choice...when a person without a helmet falls and splits their head open, it affects more than just him/her...

There is NO REASON not to wear a helmet...period. If you live in a state where it's optional and you don't wear one, simply put, you're a fool.

It's not 'tough' to act stupid...sure, it's your head...but it belongs to everyone when it's all over the street!

 

[Jeff in Dallas]

I always wear a helmet because I am one of the few people whose head actually looks better covered...

Regarding the "choice" argument, I would suggest the freedom to be obese, smoke, drink too much, be unfaithful to your family, etc. has much more impact on others (and cost others more) than the decision to wear a helmet. Maybe we should legislate those things first.

 

[MWKE]

I was a Fireman/EMT for several yrs with CDF in So Cal...Hard to Guess how many Accidents I was on but to make it Simple lets say I went on Numerous TC's involving just Cars..The Seat belt thing is 50/50 For me.....Ive seen it Save lives 50% of the time and Kill ya 50% of the time....I now wear my Belt because its the Law....

Now lets take the Motorcycles....I was a CDF when there wasnt a Helmet law in CA....NEVER NEVER EVER NEVER(unless the Dude was on some killer PCP) Rolled on a MC TC where a person wasnt wearing a helmet Survived....The PCP Users were usually walking around With Shredded Clothing and Shredded Skin to the Bone...Not sure how they were even walking..

The helmet Wearers were alive 90% of the Time when I arrived...Most of the time they were just as Wrecked as a Non Helmet Wearing Rider but they were able to talk to me....Mostly because they still had a face...:yikes:

 

[NancysToy]

I have to agree. Helmets are the law here in Michigan, but weren't when I started riding. A few trips to the race track convinced me that they were a good idea. I have worn one ever since. A few years ago, I crashed a BMW, and was knocked unconscious for four hours. Still have a few residual problems from that one. I would normally have been wearing an open helmet on a faired bike, but it was cold, and I chose my full-faced helmet. Took the hit right in the face. I will add, as a result, never ride without a full-faced helmet! OK you can do what you want, but do it for yourself, and not to defy some law you think infringes on your rights. Silly argument when you are lying on a gurney.
-Scotty

 

[ld271]

i agree ask my wife about helmets she took a 20 mph biff on a yamaha zuma after an $8000.00 bayflight ride and medical bills almost payed for she will never ride even across the street without one i beleve the helmet laws should be there thay make you were seatbelts and will give my son a ticket for not wereing a bike helmet what sence dose that make but that wont inforce helmetlaws :yikes: look at it this way what other protection do you have on a bike none unless you have a new goldwing with an air bag even then i.ll were mine just in case you never know:2thumbs:

 

[IMRU3]

I have seen a lot of my patients with permanent disabilities if not being in a vegetative state for the rest of their lives due to motor vehicular accidents (whether they were avoidable or unavoidable). The chances of mortality is greatly higher when an individual choose not to wear a helmet. Sure it's a matter of choice. However, regret always comes in the end and quite too late.

 

[Way2Fast]

In FL anyone 20 or under is required to wear a helmet. Adults can choose for themselves. I believe this is the way it should be. We already have too many laws on the books trying to protect us from ourselves. It would prevent many injuries if all auto drivers and passengers were required to not only buckle up but to also wear a full face helmet. How about flame retardant clothing? Using the philosophy of those who choose to always wear a helmet....why don't you wear one in your car? It would make vehicle use so much safer !! Would you want the government to mandate that you do?

There is inherent risk in everything we do. IMO, it should be up to the individual to decide on how much he wants do to limit that risk and to act accordingly.

 

[SpyderMark]

It's not a matter of choice...when a person without a helmet falls and splits their head open, it affects more than just him/her... There is NO REASON not to wear a helmet...period. If you live in a state where it's optional and you don't wear one, simply put, you're a fool.

There are a lot of US servicemen & women fighting and dying around the world today securing your right to an opinion -- thanks for sharing it! Here's mine...

Those same servicemen & women are dying because a segment of the world's population believes there is NO REASON not to believe Allah is the only true God, and EVERYONE should live their lives by the dictates of the Koran. This segment of the world's population believes this so strongly they are willing to KILL you if you don't come around to their way of thinking. I'll as you a question, can intolerance be taken too far?

Here's a short quote for you:

"We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."

Somehow, we have forgotten where our country came from. A large segment of the original settlers came here to escape religious persecution -- which is another way of saying they were tired of people telling them how to live their lives.

This nation was founded on the principles of individual rights and responsibilities. Somehow, we have become a nation where we expect the government to take care of us if something bad happens. If we make a mistake and take out a loan for more than we can afford, no need to worry, Uncle Sam is gonna be there to bail us out...

We have allowed laws to be written in this country that say everyone (who makes money) is responsible for everyone else's medical costs. Instead of recognizing the folly of such a position -- that "society" should be responsible for an individual's stupidity -- and striking down such a silly law, we compound the problem by writing other laws that dictate behavior and choices. In other words, we justify laws dictating behavior and choice based on the ridiculous notion that I (as a member of society) should be responsible for medical costs when someone else chooses to act irresponsibly.

Here' s a news flash: riding a motorcycle is DANGEROUS, even more dangerous than driving a car. If you can't afford to pay the enormous medical costs of injuries resulting from a motorcycle crash, or if you have family responsibilities you won't be able to meet if you are permanently injured in a motorcycle crash, then you probably shouldn't ride one. Or you should ride one without a helmet, because if you crash you'll be dead and you won't care what happens anyway...

Either way, it should be each individual's personal choice to make, as well as their personal responsibility to accept the consequences should the worst happen.

Regards,

Mark

 

[Way2Fast]

Well said....Mark !!
:agree:

Richard

 

[tatt2r]

i like my brp helmet soo much i where it to bed .... you never know when a domestic accident could happen ...dont need to take any chances ....
i must admit i dont ware mine in nh sometimes ... and i pay out crazy medical insurance so those that dont have it can get it for free ... but i hear were your coming from ...

 

[IMRU3]

There are a lot of US servicemen & women fighting and dying around the world today securing your right to an opinion -- thanks for sharing it! Here's mine...

Those same servicemen & women are dying because a segment of the world's population believes there is NO REASON not to believe Allah is the only true God, and EVERYONE should live their lives by the dictates of the Koran. This segment of the world's population believes this so strongly they are willing to KILL you if you don't come around to their way of thinking. I'll as you a question, can intolerance be taken too far?

Here's a short quote for you:

"We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."

Somehow, we have forgotten where our country came from. A large segment of the original settlers came here to escape religious persecution -- which is another way of saying they were tired of people telling them how to live their lives.

This nation was founded on the principles of individual rights and responsibilities. Somehow, we have become a nation where we expect the government to take care of us if something bad happens. If we make a mistake and take out a loan for more than we can afford, no need to worry, Uncle Sam is gonna be there to bail us out...

We have allowed laws to be written in this country that say everyone (who makes money) is responsible for everyone else's medical costs. Instead of recognizing the folly of such a position -- that "society" should be responsible for an individual's stupidity -- and striking down such a silly law, we compound the problem by writing other laws that dictate behavior and choices. In other words, we justify laws dictating behavior and choice based on the ridiculous notion that I (as a member of society) should be responsible for medical costs when someone else chooses to act irresponsibly.

Here' s a news flash: riding a motorcycle is DANGEROUS, even more dangerous than driving a car. If you can't afford to pay the enormous medical costs of injuries resulting from a motorcycle crash, or if you have family responsibilities you won't be able to meet if you are permanently injured in a motorcycle crash, then you probably shouldn't ride one. Or you should ride one without a helmet, because if you crash you'll be dead and you won't care what happens anyway...

Either way, it should be each individual's personal choice to make, as well as their personal responsibility to accept the consequences should the worst happen.

Regards,

Mark

Sadly, in the worst case - it will be the end.