Ride safe.

 

That's a sad attempt at trying to insert patriotism and military/veteran support into a helmet debate. And the first time I've seen such a spin. Don't even go there. And don't counter with the race card either.

Not only that, your logic is flawed. First it has nothing to do with liberty and freedom. Then you assume you can't support one aspect without supporting liberty in every sense. Ridiculous.

You tell me how insurance companies feel about multi-million dollar injury cases. Medical and vehicle insurance companies. Let's throw in life insurance companies too.

Not only that, the profit and insurance part is secondary, not the primary reason one should wear a helmet.

It's a state law that doesn't allow you to "look cool". Too bad. You're lucky it's not a federal law. What if insurance companies said, "No DOT, no coverage." What then? Still infringing on your liberty?

 

March 17th, 2010, That is when this thread started!!!!

And the argument for and against helmets began long before that, and it aint over yet either....

Here is my opinion, and it is just that, AN OPINION, if you don't like it, I DON"T CARE, it's MINE not yours.

I live in a state that requires a helmet, so I wear one.
If in a state that doesn't and I feel so inclined, I don't.

I disagree with seat belt laws and helmet laws, for adults. I think as an adult riding a motorcycle, we know the risks and make a decision based upon personal opinion. I make the difference between kids and adults because we have a lot of DUMBASSES that are a strong argument for forced sterilization but that is not legal, so someone has to look out for their kids.

The debate for this will never be settled as long as we ride, that is obvious. Our founding fathers new first hand how intrusive on civil liberties a government could be and they sought to limit that. Since its inception, our constitutional rights have steadily been eroded by those claiming to protect us.

I don't care if you wear your helmet or not, it is your choice, not mine.

I am not going to say BS like helmets are counterproductive, the scientific fact of the matter is, they work. They do save lives, just like seat belts do, but once again, it SHOULD be our own choice, not our governments choice.

It is sad to hear the horror stories of the head injuries, and I don't wish it on anyone, but the truth of the matter is, idiots in cars are the biggest hazard to a motorcyclist and for a lot of those accidents, a helmet isn't going to change the outcome.

I have lost 5 different friends to crashes with a car/truck/suv, in all but one case, they were wearing a helmet. The one not wearing a helmet, the determination was it would not have mattered.

In EVERY single case, paying more attention to what was going on around them and having better foresight MAY have presented an opportunity to avoid the accident.

So I ride in the following manner whether wearing a helmet or not: Pay attention, assume that NO ONE SEES YOU, the cage at the intersection is going to pull out in front of you, the cage on the interstate, has no idea you are there so stay away form them, and if you ride like you KNOW this, 100% of the time, you will be able to avoid most crashes.

Interestingly, I ride like this and I have never been in a crash with cage. I have had a crash with a deer, a dog, and loose gravel in a corner, but not another vehicle.

It may happen to me one day, but it hasn't yet in 30plus years. I have had a lot of close calls, and anyone who rides does, but I have always been able to recover, by anticipating "the cage don't see me at all."

I honestly believe, us as riders, assuming we are invisible and no one sees us is the best chance we got, and wearing a helmet is NOT going to change that. But in the event we do crash, it is proven that our chances are better with the helmet.

If you actually read that long post, I hope you got something from it, if only entertainment.

 

She looks pretty pissed off at you. But I am glad you BOTH had enough sense to wear a real helmet. Glad you both lived through it to tell the story.

 

It's always about the checkbook with these types.

Here in North Carolina we had a bill introduced that would give the usage of a safety helmet up to the riders (21 yrs and older). Once the bill reached the transportation committee, many of us emailed/phoned many members of the committee, urging support of this bill. I recall receiving several replies, but one stood out. I received a reply from one committee member stating how she could not support this bill, due to her being a 'nurse' and she was committed to saving lives. I emailed her back asking her when she was going to introduce a bill that would ban tobacco farming, sale, and usage. Tobacco usage kills a hell of a lot more, than helmet-less motorcycle accidents. Never heard a word back from the lady. Oh. Wait, I know why she never emailed me back. She resides in a large tobacco producing county! So much for being concerned about saving lives.

 

Geeze, I am going delirious with this thread.

"The government cannot make objective standards for helmets without taking on liability, and since they are expressly forbidden from taking on liability they can never make an objective standard for helmets." Richard Quigley

And that's all I have to say about that...