Motorcycle helmet laws!!!

[Zeroflat24]

I watched my sisters ex-boyfriend face plant from a 12 o'clock wheelie at 80+ MPH. his visor exploded and broke both his femurs along with many other bones. that was hands down the worst thing i have ever witnessed. i wasnt even riding with them. i was on my way somewhere completely different than them, just happened i got behind them. didnt realize who it was until he skidded 150 face 1st across 2 lanes of traffic, then tried to get up and walk with 2 broken legs. i have always worn a helmet, and after seeing that always will.

 

[ReconLdr]

If you're adamant that you are going to wear a helmet all the time then what does it matter if it's law? I understand the right to choose, but here in Canada our medical premiums go up when people get injured or sick at a high rate, so if there were no helmet laws here it would cost us way more money due to stupidity!!! So I am all for helmet laws, they keep the rest of us from paying for dumbass people making dumbass "choices"

If you have to ask "...what does it matter if it's law?" You don't understand the right to choose...

Situations:

1) If more people were dead than injured from MC accidents... (Dead people don't require treatment)

2) If MC accidents could some how be reduced/removed from the equation, (IE reflective vests, diligent cagers, magical force field, space age deflector shield etc)

Question: Would that make the costs go down??? If the answer(s)are NO, your argument is flawed...

Personal Liberty should never be hindered by the Nanny state for "our own good." It is a slippery slope that can lead to very undesireable results... If the politicians can determine riding a motorcycle without a helmet is dangerous and pass a law requiring the helmet today.... What if mandating helmets aren't enough to reduce fatalities??? What if they decide that Motorcycles themselves are inherently dangerous and mandate that every last one is confiscated and destroyed. Think it can't happen??? Maybe not in our lifetime but in our childrens lifetime....

Look at what the goverments around the world have done with guns. Much like motorcycles, they have the capability to kill people... but not without human action.

The freedom to choose is EVERYTHING!!!!!!!!

 

[ct1200]

I had to do some digging but found this

I've done this ride for about 6yrs now.
Its about having the choice, yes I do wear one, but its nice to live in a state that I have that option.
Now to leave the state, I have to wear one, both NY and MA its required.

 

[Zeroflat24]

If you have to ask "...what does it matter if it's law?" You don't understand the right to choose...

Situations:

1) If more people were dead than injured from MC accidents... (Dead people don't require treatment)

2) If MC accidents could some how be reduced/removed from the equation, (IE reflective vests, diligent cagers, magical force field, space age deflector shield etc)

Question: Would that make the costs go down??? If the answer(s)are NO, your argument is flawed...

Personal Liberty should never be hindered by the Nanny state for "our own good." It is a slippery slope that can lead to very undesireable results... If the politicians can determine riding a motorcycle without a helmet is dangerous and pass a law requiring the helmet today.... What if mandating helmets aren't enough to reduce fatalities??? What if they decide that Motorcycles themselves are inherently dangerous and mandate that every last one is confiscated and destroyed. Think it can't happen??? Maybe not in our lifetime but in our childrens lifetime....

Look at what the goverments around the world have done with guns. Much like motorcycles, they have the capability to kill people... but not without human action.

The freedom to choose is EVERYTHING!!!!!!!!

This. Just look at England and their gun policies. Guns are bad so lets outlaw ALL guns. then when someone goes on a killing spree with a gun no one can stop them. most of the cops dont carry guns their. so if you outlaw all guns, then people start killing each other with knives. then you outlaw all knives, then people start using bats. and so on and so on. the government should stay out of our lives as much as possible.

 

[BuddhaBuell]

I believe in individual liberty. As a man "I" alone am responsible for my safety. If I want to ride my bike in rush hour traffic wearing nothing more a ball cap, thong and flip flops, I should be allowed to do so. If I want to ingest, inhale or inject any substance into my body, it is my business.

The concepts of freedom and liberty are so far gone from our society, that when shit like this gets "repealled" some people get themselves into a frenzy. How sad is it when a state "gives" back freedom, that it makes such a huge news event. In reality, when the Helmet laws were proposed, the people should have fought it harder.

[up]

Personal Liberty should never be hindered by the Nanny state for "our own good." It is a slippery slope that can lead to very undesireable results... If the politicians can determine riding a motorcycle without a helmet is dangerous and pass a law requiring the helmet today.... What if mandating helmets aren't enough to reduce fatalities??? What if they decide that Motorcycles themselves are inherently dangerous and mandate that every last one is confiscated and destroyed. Think it can't happen??? Maybe not in our lifetime but in our childrens lifetime....

Look at what the goverments around the world have done with guns. Much like motorcycles, they have the capability to kill people... but not without human action.

The freedom to choose is EVERYTHING!!!!!!!!

+1 ReconLdr

Being Canadian I can attest on how fucked up our goverment is and the powers that be in this country have made the simple enjoyable experience of riding and owning a motorcycle a very expensive hobbie.
i.e. the province of Quebec has a law that states you can not ride during certain months, WTF [confused], when I resided in the province of Onterrible and it was mid January and the roads were cleared (yet the snowbanks were 4' high) I was riding...
the cost of insurance for motorcycles is outrageous, criminal in fact in this country...

My stance on helmut laws is let the rider make the decision of weither he/she wants to wear gear...
stupid is as stupid does
[smirk]

 

[GAXB9R]

Just wear it.......should be on a shirt. Law or no law.

 

[ReconLdr]

This. Just look at England and their gun policies. Guns are bad so lets outlaw ALL guns. then when someone goes on a killing spree with a gun no one can stop them. most of the cops dont carry guns their. so if you outlaw all guns, then people start killing each other with knives. then you outlaw all knives, then people start using bats. and so on and so on. the government should stay out of our lives as much as possible.

The UK Olympic Rifle/Pistol team has to practice outside of the country because they don't meet the exceptions (LEO/Military/Royal) to legally possess a firearm within their borders.

 

[Zeroflat24]

The UK Olympic Rifle/Pistol team has to practice outside of the country because they don't meet the exceptions (LEO/Military/Royal) to legally possess a firearm within their borders.

That is just wrong on so many levels. I carry my Kimber in plain view of everyone to my right side while rolling down the road on my buell (helmet on of course . ) I love PA.

 

[ReconLdr]

That is just wrong on so many levels. I carry my Kimber in plain view of everyone to my right side while rolling down the road on my buell (helmet on of course . ) I love PA.

Me too. In Pa (we), I can choose how to defend myself and my family, how to carry (or not carry) my side arm and if I want to wear my helmet.(<~~~ to stay on topic)

It's all about having the freedom to choose. I understand your choice in sidearms but, I do have to mention... If it's not a Colt, it's a COPY.

 

[frostedflakejake]

AS AN EMT WHO HAS SEEN HIS FIAR SHARE OF MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENTS. HELMETS SAVE LIVES FACT. BUT THEY ONLY DO IT AT GENERALY SLOW SPEEDS AND ONLY PREVENT HEAD INJURIES. A HELMET DOES NOTHING WHEN YOU T BONE A CAR AT 50 ACCEPT GIVE YOU AN OPEN CASKET. I COME FROM A STATE THAT HAS NO HELMET LAW (OHIO) AND THERE ARE SO MANY FATALITIES DUE TO NOT WEARING A HELMET. THEY ARE AND INTEGRAL PART OF YOUR RIDING EQIPTMENT. IF THE ACCIDENT IS ENOUGH TO DESTROY YOUR INTERNALS THEN THE HELMET WILL PROTECT YOUR HEAD BUT WHAT GOOD IS A FACE IF THE BODY DONT WORK. JUST MY 2 CENTS. REMEMBER PEOPLE YOU CAN BE THE BEST RIDER EVER BUT THERE ARE 3 BILLION PEOPLE OUT THERE IN CARS TRYING TO KILL YOU.

Seriously, didn't even both to read this because of the caps. Just sayin'

 

[frostedflakejake]

bother*

And everything has pretty much been said.
I am not happy about the law (Michigan Resident). I have friends and family dumb enough to not wear a helmet. Yeah they are dumb, but that doesn't mean I don't care about them.

 

[jasonxb9]

The problem is not fatalities alone it is when someone crashes not wearing a helmet and what could have been a simple case of road rash and some minor injuries turns in to being on life support or being in a coma for months on end incurring thousands in expenses every day that tax payers have to fork over again due to complete morons not wearing helmets, it does concern me!!! I understand civil liberties just fine, but what some of you are talking about is just conspiracy theories at its finest!! Has the government actually given anybody a REAL sense that they are going to outlaw motorcycles all together, I don't think so... We all want to protect our rights and believe that we are innocent until proven guilty, but we are not willing to give the same courtesy back?? Either way my opinion is that we need helmet laws and many other laws as well, otherwise we will have a major problem on our hands. Just my .02

 

[WALLSXB]

I know Texas had a helmet law several years back but they repealed it due to public outcry I believe. I feel the choice should be up to the rider even though I won't ride without a full face helmet. Some of the crap that has hit my sheild makes me a beliver because without it my face would have chunks taken out. Just today a squid on a black Firebolt passed me with NO gear and wearing shorts. I as always had helmet, jacket, boots and gloves and while it was a tad warm i feel I might of been better off than him in a spill, i hope. [smirk]

 

[GAXB9R]

Yeah if you have ever been caught in the rain without a jacket imagine that on your face!

 

[FlaXB9R]

So you have everyone's opinion besides those who choose not to wear a helmet . I'll start by saying I now always wear a helmet but I didn't use to . I am a firm believer that when it is your time to go it's your time to go and there is no way around it . So I have always believed that if it was that time, helmet or not it's that time . I wear a helmet now because I finally spent a little change and bought a decent helmet . Now I enjoy to wear it rather than before wearing cheap helmets from craigslist that weren't worth a damn and felt pointless . I also had an incident playing competitive softball were I took a line drive to the face and fractured my face while I had a face mask in my bag in the dugout . I didn't feel threatened by the team we were facing so I didn't put it on . Afterwards I thought that was pretty stupid to have protection and not wear it . That thought in return made me think of my helmet that would be a lot worse situation to learn the hard way so that also played a factor in my new decision to always wear a helmet . It's still not in fear of death but rather protection period because I still fill if it's my time helmet or not it's that time .Although I chose to wear one now i don't agree with the law against not wearing one . I believe in freedom and choice . My mother use to hate the fact that I rode a motorcycle period . There a plenty of people that say all of us are stupid for even riding a motorcycle gear or no gear just as stated in previous post about people who don't wear helmets so is your argument better than theirs ? There are risk in every aspect of life . I'm sure peoples heads have exploded in cars too, so are you going to wear a helmet in a car ? While not wearing a helmet last year I had someone talk to me about wearing one as he smoked a cigarette . All I could think of is really your smoking, that to me is showing no respect for yourself and well being putting harmful chemicals in your body so why the fuck are you worried what I do with my body . Opinions are like assholes everyone has one . Do what you want and I'll do what I want . I choose to wear one if you don't I could care less . I choose not to smoke and I could give a fuck if you do . Should smoking be band because it kills ? Hell it also affects the people around it . I hate cigarettes and I would be against banding them for the fact that you would be taking away someones freedom and choice . That is my $.02

 

[iownedu]

If you are 18 or older it should be your own decision for helmets and seatbelts.

I personally think a helmet should be worn at all times on a bike, but don't believe one should be forced to. Its their life and their decision.

 

[buellbradski]

Im all for fredom of choice i dont think the government should tell me how to control my life . Other than to keep me from harming or becoming a nusance on others. On the otther hand 10 years ago i prolly would not have wore a helmet( stupid kid). Thanks to new york i always have been required to and they prolly saved my ass in a couple four wheeler wrecks . Nock on wood ive managed to keep my bike sticky side down. So i think both sides have valid point amd while it should come down to rider preferance im glad it wasnt my choice in my stupider days.