Roethlisberger's Stupid Comments on Bike Safety
 

As you may have heard by now, Roethlisberger wrecked his bike without a helmet, and did some pretty significant damage to himself. I took this quote from a Fox Sports article:

"He talked about being a risk-taker and I'm not really a risk-taker. I'm pretty conservative and laid back, but the big thing is to just be careful," Roethlisberger said at the time. "I'll just continue to be careful. I told him we don't ever ride alone, we always ride in a group of people, and I think it makes it even more safe."

How does riding in a group keep you from getting into an accident? That has to be the stupidest comment I've ever heard. Well, guess what - he was riding alone when he wrecked. I know the bike he was on wasn't a Harley, but if he had been wearing a helmet, he would have walked away with scratches, and would have saved his promising career.

No matter what, stupid drivers (especially older drivers- she was 62) will do stupid things, and you can try to look out for that, but I don't think there is anything he could have done to prevent this wreck. But if he had been wearing a helmet, he would have been far better off than he is today.

Stupid reasons for not wearing a helmet come in many forms, but to me, in the end, they're are still stupid reasons.
Helmets save lives, or in this case, mulit-Million dollar careers.

Matt
Go Steelers!

RE: Roethlisberger's Stupid Comments on Bike Safety
 

AGREE!!!!!!!!!!

RE: Roethlisberger's Stupid Comments on Bike Safety
 

A group of riders is easier to see.....If you are traveling in a group and you crash your group can administer first aid immediately......62 is old?????? oh my!!!

Quote from Matt115
"How does riding in a group keep you from getting into an accident? That has to be the stupidest comment I've ever heard."

RE: Roethlisberger's Stupid Comments on Bike Safety
 

Well put. The thing I don't get is he is willing to put on a helmet on the football and not even the biggest linemen can give you 1/10th of the impact a car can. Like my dad say money can't buy common sense.

RE: Roethlisberger's Stupid Comments on Bike Safety
 

This information was reported by the Pittsburgh Post Gazzette in reguard to the helmet law in PA: "Although numbers do not reflect what percentage of state motorcyclists wear helmets, the statistics show that more helmet wearers than nonwearers have died since 2003, when the state relaxed its requirement that motorcycle riders wear helmets.

In 2004 and 2005, 180 people wearing helmets died in crashes, while 157 who were not wearing helmets died".

What does this mean?I don't know....

RE: Roethlisberger's Stupid Comments on Bike Safety
 

Being a Steeler fan, news of the crash made me sick. It also made me think of my helmet and is it good enough? I was actually nervous driving home on my bike from work, I just kept thinking about big Ben. Helmets will not always save you, but it is a big step towards limiting the damage. It would have really reduced his injuries in this most common of M/C crashes, the left turning vehicle. I hope he is OK and that we are ALL OK!

I may start wearing my 3/4 helmet instaed of my questionable "DOT" german helmet??? Ride safe everyone!

RE: Roethlisberger's Stupid Comments on Bike Safety
 

Basically, Mike, it doesn't mean anything, at least without knowing the total number of riders who wear head protection and the number that habitually do not and then comparing the number of fatal crashes to those totals.

I'm not much of a sports fan, so I don't know anything about this guy's prowess on the gridiron, but I'd wager that if he trotted out on the field to play without his helmet people would gasp and say he was crazy and irresponsible. Yet riding a motorcycle without his helmet drew not a comment until he crashed and his multi-gazillion dollar career might be negatively affected by the resulting head injury - which may have been lessened or prevented totally had he been wearing an approved helmet.

The news report that I saw also pointed out that a full 50% of motorcycle riders are woofully underinsured and that crashes resulting in serious head injury often means long-term care whose cost far exceed the ability of the insurance to cover - which means that the general public ends up footing the bill to a tune in excess of one $billion$ per year.

So much for the "Its my choice", "it don't affect anyone but me" argument! Now, flame on.

RE: Roethlisberger's Stupid Comments on Bike Safety
 

Stupid is as stupid does.

RE: Roethlisberger's Stupid Comments on Bike Safety
 

From what I read Ben broke his jaw and nose He hit the car windshield face first I don't think a helmet would have let him get away with only scratches.. A half helmet or even a 3/4 helmet and you are still planting your face in the windshield A full face helmet and you are planting your face into your face shield Either way you will probably wind up with the same broken jaw and nose. Helmets will do a good job of saving you from a head injury, but the face is always vulnerable. I think the angle of the rider on the crotch rocket had as much to do with his face planting as did the no helemt. Your a missle waiting to hit your target. my .02

RE: Roethlisberger's Stupid Comments on Bike Safety
 

A properly fitted full face and you will not hit the face shield. His facial injuries would have been limited to bruises at the worst. Remember, your head aint as hard as you think it is. Doesn't take much to break a face. Takes quite a bit to break a helmet.

His knee injuries would not have been prevented though, so in the long run it wouldnt change things on the career front most likely.

I'm suprised it wasn't part of his contract that he must wear a helmet. You'd think the team would try to protect its interest.