Interesting thought for helmet laws...

[Big IV]

Okay, let's be honest. I don't think the state should decide if I wear my helmet or not, it isn't any of their business. My mother and my wife do a lot of continued pressure to keep a helmet on my head. I am glad I was wearing a helmet when I took a sudden dive through a camper shell several years ago. But I do think it should be a person's right.  I think insurance companies should charge you more if you are a non-helmet wearer, but it should be between you, your motherly voice of reason, and perhaps your insurance provider instead of a state decision.


That being said, here is an interesting helmet related article.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090320/ap_on_re_ca/canada_richardson_helmet_law

TORONTO – Quebec is considering making helmets mandatory on ski slopes following the death of actress Natasha Richardson and after doctors tried to persuade the province's sports minister to do it.

Saw this coming. When the news started discussing her death in depth I thought that this was coming. Equestrians revisited helmeting debates loudly after Christopher Reeve was injured. I believe some states questioned ski helmets and ski safety after the Kennedy died in a ski accident.

What is a shame is that the prime minister is making public statements post-star death and not after the Korean exchange student died.
 

Before Richardson's death, the debate over helmet use surfaced last month in Ontario after a 13-year-old South Korean exchange student who wasn't wearing a helmet hit a tree and died.

Interesting.
Bound to happen (or atleast be discussed to happen) at some point.

Just thought I'd share a bit.

"By no means will a helmet save you 100 per cent but it's definitely a step in the right direction to try to prevent brain damage or something like that," Powell said.

[Jack]

Many people die at home in the bathtub.  Maybe we need to wear a helmet in the shower. I'm sure toddlers need a helmet when they are learning to walk.

[bassin]

Well my 2 cents worth , as a police officer I have worked motorcycle accidents where the riders head injuries wouldnt have been any worse without a helment, both were DEAD. Im a free American and if I choose not to wear a helment its on me. Like Jack said ifs thats the case make people wear them in the shower and put hand rails in there to !

[3fan4life]

if thats the case make people wear them in the shower and put hand rails in there to !

Give "BIG BROTHER" time and he will...

The government is so busy trying to "protect" us from "ourselves"..... 

What we really need is protection from the GOVERNMENT!!!!! 

[FLAVALK]

Politics, religion and helment laws  All are no-win arguments with anyone who disagrees. I usually don't wear a helment but sometimes I do. I do agree that anyone over 21-years old should be able to decide. JMHO

If we all agreed, everyone would all ride a '98 Sedona Red & Creme Valkyrie tourer and drink Michalob-Ultra and Crown Royal Agreed???

[bassin]

Well I dont know about the Michalob-Ultra ?hahaa

[Jeff K]

With the amount of losses of property and life due to Christmas trees and holiday decorations, I firmly believe they should be outlawed.

[Casper96]

I agree with Bassin, as a Firefighter/Paramedic...it is about 50/50 for what I have seen. One with helmets DOA and ones without DOA. I also do not believe that my provider should charge me more if I don't wear one. SO before I get meself in anymore trouble with anyone I will stop


Hey but wait I know 1 thing we all agree on......WE ride the best DARN motorcycle ever built

[junior]

drink Michalob-Ultra and Crown Royal Agreed???

 you dont mix the two do you?

[Hog Killer DS0048]

I believe that mandatory helmet laws were started, where else, California. The wisdom of the law makers decided that there were too many bikers with no insurance and that helmets would save the state medical dollars. I do not know if that has proven to work though.

[Willow]

I believe that mandatory helmet laws were started, where else, California.

Not by a long shot.  Like almost twenty years.  California was a relative latecomer.

Sometimes things are just not what we imagine them to be.

[Gary]

This pretty well sums it up for me



I actually sold my bike in California when they passed the mandatory law back in ... 90?

The next bike I bought was the Valk back in April of 97 out in Jacksonville, IL.

A helmet definitely blows when it comes to my riding experience.

Now about that Crown, no mix needed for mine please.

[DFragn]

For the last 10 years of better then 30 yrs. of riding I chose to wear a helmet in a non-helmet state. Prior to this I wore a helmet maybe 60-70% of the time.

What I don't understand are opinions that a State of the U.S. should not force an MC rider to wear a helmet!?

The States impose an auto seatbelt law don't they. I'll bet you non-helmet wearers wear your seatbelt! Why? because they save lives and because they do it's become the law in many States. As Do Helmets too, they save more lives then they take. What's the dog gone difference? Each is relative to a particular motor vehicle.

I can't wait to see all the HD groups in DOT helmets! 

[FLAVALK]

drink Michalob-Ultra and Crown Royal Agreed???

 you dont mix the two do you?

well....not together is the same glass....if thats what you mean   

[Stitch_in_La]

I live in a helmet state, I wear a modular.  My daughter was involved in a accident where a driver did a U-turn on a two lane road with no shoulder.  "Didn't see her".  Multiple lacerations to face several surgeries for scar revision and some other treatments.  I feel better with the full face.  I'm a daily rider especially nice during luv-bug season down here.

Stitch

[fudgie]

I agree with Bassin, as a Firefighter/Paramedic...it is about 50/50 for what I have seen. One with helmets DOA and ones without DOA. I also do not believe that my provider should charge me more if I don't wear one. SO before I get meself in anymore trouble with anyone I will stop


Hey but wait I know 1 thing we all agree on......WE ride the best DARN motorcycle ever built

   I agree! I work EMS also and its the same down here. I've seen just as many deaths with seat belt as without. Depends on how you wreck.

[junior]

drink Michalob-Ultra and Crown Royal Agreed???

 you dont mix the two do you?

well....not together is the same glass....if thats what you mean   

yes thats what i ment.lol

[the inspector]

Well I guess I'll chime in on this topic. I think as a human with a working brain....and we all know motorcyclist's have one of those don't we??? My take on this subject is we should be able to decide if we want to wear it or not. Now depending on the ride, sometimes I do and sometimes I go I don't. But I have to ride down to PA. with the helmet on, after we cross into PA. and the ride is a pleasure ride, forgetaboutit....off it comes. If I were riding in the city (Buffalo) in the mix if you will, I do feel a helmet might be a good idea. But as you all see the ride would dicate would have some bearing on the choise. No extra insurance costs, no big brother telling you one way or the other, this is America the land of the free. The right to bear arms, vote, drink, party, pay taxes, ride on pot hole roads, pay tickets with sur-charges on them because the crooks need to give themself's a big fat raise. Please don't get me started.......

"the inspector"
Veteran 66-70
American Legion & Patriot Guard Rider

[badger1002]

You European folks can chime in and correct me, but in Germany, if your actions contribute or exacerbate any injuries you recieve, then your insurance payout can legally be reduced. In other words, if you don't wear a helmet and full leathers and your injuries could have been prevented by wearing same, the insurance company can/will reduce how much they pay out.  I think this a VERY effective tactic to get people to wear some type of headgear (I wear full or 3/4 helmets most of the time).