(from Motorbike Times)

Former governor and advocate for no helmet requirement laws dies from head injury sustained while riding motorcycle without helmet.

If this isn't a case of irony then we don't know what is. A US politician, well known for his efforts to repeal a state law requiring motorcyclists to wear helmets died last week in a motorcycle accident.

Ben Joseph "Joey" Brush Jr, 59, was killed on Thursday morning (7 May) when a car pulled out in front of his Harley-Davidson motorcycle, according to the Augusta Chronicle.

The motorist that hit Brush was 49 year-old Kimberly Crouch, who allegedly stopped at a stop sign and didn't see the motorcycle when she tried to drive through the intersection. Crouch is facing charges of failure to stop/yield at stop/yield sign, and homicide by vehicle in 2nd degree.

Brush had served four years in the Georgia House of Representatives and eight years in the state Senate, before losing his Senate seat in 2004. He was active in lobbying for motorcyclists while he was in senate though, and was most remembered for the two bills he tried to get passed.

One of the bills sought to repeal the helmet requirement and the other would allow motorcyclists to override red lights as stop signs, so if the bike was not heavy enough to activate the sensor to change the light then the biker could go through the intersection if it was safe to proceed.

While he was never able to get enough support for the no-helmet law (shocking), he was however able to get the law passed about red lights, but the bill is still awaiting the governor's signature.

While the situation is truly unfortunate, we can't help but think that Brush might have survived the crash that tragically ended his life if he had of been wearing a helmet.

 

blah blah. personal decision. put a leg over the bike every time there is chance for disaster. helmet or not.

 

the media will have a heyday , but a personal choice, as it should be, on helmet use, helmet use would not have prevented the accident, nor would a helmet guaranteed a better outcome for the rider. I personally wear one all the time,even though not required, but I agree 100% with the let the rider decide.

 

Sam Kinison used to make fun of the drunk driving laws in his comedy routines and sure enough got hit by a drunk driver and killed. Strange but it happens.

 

I don't know that this has anything to do with the op but? A co worker of my wife, her dad was a rancher, 85 yrs old. He was getting to the point that he couldn't take care of his cattle , daughter told him that if he couldn't take care of them that she would sell them. He said no way in hell you are selling my cows! A few days later they found him in the pasture dead , a bale of hay had fallen on him, still had his cowboy hat on. It sucks but I say good for him.

 

 

But GA is a helmet state. How was he not wearing a helmet?

 

He could have been in another state. SC, Fl and Pa are a few eastern states that come to mind that do not have helmet laws. Totaled 2 bikes last year and never got a scratch on a helmet.

 

I guess what i am getting from the OP is Helmets save life -
a few people i know died wearing helmets while riding -
maybe then we should wear helmets 24/7 -
or not wear them 24/7
then we would have both bases covered.

 

I always wear a helmet, but i'm not sure it should be a law. I would wear one either way.