Take from this what you will. (Motorcycle related)

[Romeo]

http://news.yahoo.com/injuries-soar-michigan-stops-requiring-motorcycle-helmets-213730099.html?soc_src=mediacontentstory&soc_trk=tw

[RDKLL]

Nothing earth shattering there. I ride occasionally without a helmet (please dont tell my wife) when I have a quick errand (statistically the most dangerous parameters, close to home and lower speeds) and I like it. I have only gone on a few longer trips without a helmet and I liked it then too but 99% of the time I have a helmet on, my choice.
Choices have consequences and those that choose to ride without a helmet know that and Im cool with it...

[msb]

For the most part since I began riding in the mid 70's, BC has always had a mandatory helmet law (with a few short exceptions when some group would get a temporary suspension of the law by initiating an "official" protest). Being young and not always so bright, my riding buddies and I would head across the border on weekends so we could ride around in WA with no helmets on highways that had higher speed limits than here at home Luckily, we all managed to avoid any head injuries through those years.

Fast forward to 2008 when I hooked up with one of those old buddies for a ride with our wives through Idaho and Montana where of course, there is no mandatory helmet law. We hadn't ridden together since the early 80's and were feeling nostalgic, so at one roadside stop in Idaho we decided to doff the helmets for a bit in order to re-live our "glory days" of "freedom". I was in the lead, and after about 5 minutes of feeling the wind full on, I pulled over to put the lid back on. My buddy asked why, and I replied that it just didn't feel right after all this time .... and that since my long flowing locks had long since disappeared, that the thrill of them blowing in the wind was gone as well 
It's my personal choice to wear a helmet...just as it is for those who choose not to.

[dreamaker]

I have a carbon fiber helmet, because it is light and stronger than fiberglass and plastic.  If I am on the bike I wear my helmet, even if I take in down the street to test the bike. I was in an accident in the mid 70's, and hit and skidded down Kelly Rd. At that time I was wearing a Bell full helmet, and after seeing the damage on the helmet, I was glad I was wearing it. I would have been much goofier than I am now if I wasn't wearing it. Also, I retired from a safety restraint company (Seatbelt and Airbags) I worked in the imaging Dept. and filmed and videoed  the crash tests, so I understand what the body goes through a crash, and it is not pretty. The brain is very delicate and needs to be protected as much as possible. I believe that it should be peoples choice and responsibility, whether they want to wear a helmet or not.  BUT, I feel very STRONGLY that in the event, that things don't pan out on peoples decisions, that I am not financially responsible for their out come.

[RDKLL]

BUT, I feel very STRONGLY that in the event, that things don't pan out on peoples decisions, that I am not financially responsible for their out come.

+1 on this, but there is no way to make sure that a person has to pay for their mistakes

[cookiedough]

I did not know that MI have to have 20K in medical coverage expense.  I wonder how many cyclists know that or have that but probably they do I would think if they have insurance, their insurance company would know the law (or should).

It is very hard to convince cyclists to wear a helmet even after a serious accident as in the case of the guy at work NO longer able to work now for past 1 year involved in a 35 mph side collision with a full sized truck hitting his head on the hood with no helmet on flipping OVER the hood even at that speed.  He still thinks in his mind that if he had worn a helmet when his forehead hit the hood that he would be dead or worse off.   Never understood his reasoning and no sense arguing.  

I feel the same way though,  personal choice on helmets, just like seat belt use, but the law is the law, I just choose to break it every now and again.  The violation for no seat belt is a 10 dollar ticket, so can live with that if I ever get stopped.    Almost all of us never grew up with seat belts wearing them, if so,  just the waist/lap buckle is all since not the law back then.   If I was a beating man,  1/2 of us never wore the seat belt either growing up. 

[John Schmidt]

A former neighbor always said he'd never wear a helmet if it isn't required....until he hit a patch of sand in a construction site. He always said it was too restrictive. My answer to him was simple...."a wheel chair is more restrictive than a helmet."  Haven't seen him without a helmet in over two years now. 

[dreamaker]

I have had many discussions about seatbelt and airbags as well as helmets, were people tell you, about the people who have died wearing these safety items.  People always DEMAND a guarantee on things, and I explain to them these items are not a guarantee to survive or avoid any harm.  What they do is, increase the CHANCES of survival and MINIMAL damage. They are not a guarantee!

[Alien]

I always, ALWAYS wear a helmet.  Not because it's a law but because one saved my dad's life when I was a kid and one has saved my life also.  That being said, I don't feel the need to impose that on anyone else.  To each their own.  There are plenty of people riding around So Cal with really good, full face helmets, shorts, no shirt and flip flops.  The gene pool is self cleaning.

Ride Safe,

Alien

[solo1]

Somewhere I've read that DOT helmets have to withstand the equivalent of an 8 to 12 mph crash impact.

That force absorbed by the helmet makes a glancing blow livable.   Helmets are mainly designed for that level to keep the helmet size usable.  For the people who scoff at that seemingly low level, I say..........Walk through a steel encased doorway and turn your head sideways so that your forehead hits the steel, at a walking pace

I worked in environmental shock testing . It is very easy to produce a 40 g impact which translates to a 10 pound head (assuming that you have a brain, ) weighing 400 pounds. Imagine that head 400 pound hitting an immovable object like a side of a truck!

I still say choice, but the consequences should be known.

[Skinhead]

I always wear a helmet.  That said, I would like to see this data broken down into:

How many incidents where single vehicle (MC only)?

How many were cage infringing on MC right of way?

How many were cell phone related?

I'm not saying this would justify not wearing a helmet, as I believe you must be prepared for the unexpected, and there is no doubt in my mind that a helmet will reduce your chance of suffering severe head injuries.

[Challenger]

After being in many crashes stock car racing in the 80's and walking away with no injuries, I always wear my seat belt in a Cage. I wear a helmet 99% of the time (I know, that 1% could get me  ) Not one of the guys I ride with locally wear a helmet. Their choice. I just don't care for the wind noise anymore and the visor allows me to see better going into the sun. My choice. It's getting scarier out there everyday.

[DirtyDan]

I spend a lot of time on the road

I wear my helmet not only for what it MIGHT protect me from but what it DOES protect me from

sun wind noise bugs debris birds rocks etc

dan

[Ramie]

I wear my helmet 99% of time and while I'm sure some of the deaths in MI can be linked to no helmet it's my guess a lot of them can be linked to in experience or bad choices by the rider or any cage that takes them out.  MC deaths are up all over the country and its my opinion that  texting and browsing the internet are one of the big causes of the increase.

[sandy]

Here in the PHX area, 80% of those not wearing are Harleys and most of them ride like there's no tomorrow. Speeding, tailgating and weaving in and out on freeways. It seems to be in their culture to defy death because it's cool. Must be the manly thing to do.

[Michvalk]

Most of the accidents in this area were from, no helmet, riding too fast in a corner, after leaving a bar, at 2:30 in the morning. The other guy was killed from someone turning in front of him. I wear mine most of the time, but, sometimes on the expressway, I'll pull it off. To many inattentive drivers these days for me to ride without one

[baldo]

A local woman was bicycle riding with her family when she slipped on sand turning into her driveway. She went down and hit her head, not hard, but no helmet. She died the next day. 35 yrs old.

You just never know.....

[Willow]

[scooperhsd]

I never ride without a helmet (you know what emergency rooms call those who don't - organ donors), and I almost never drive a cage without the seatbelts fastened (my choice, not just because it's the law).

[Robert]

Wow with so many here that wear a helmet why is there any need to have the choice of no helmet?

[dreamaker]

I think choice is ones right, whether you exercise it or not, one of the points of riding a bike is one of the last freedoms. 

[Art708]

 I wear a helmet probably 99% of the time. I usually ride with 2 or 3 other guys (hate riding in big groups) and we all have CBs for communication with speakers in the helmet, even our  half helmets.
The thing I've never understood is the state law.....why require seat belts in cars but there's no requirement for a helmet on a motorcycle. Somehow this makes no sense to me, although I'd wear both even if there were no law.

[msb]

The thing I've never understood is the state law.....why require seat belts in cars but there's no requirement for a helmet on a motorcycle. Somehow this makes no sense to me, although I'd wear both even if there were no law.

I agree this doesn't make sense, but would imagine it has something to do with the strength of the lobby groups advocating no helmets. Badass  bikers fighting for their right to ride as they choose  vs moms  and dads with kids in mini vans, etc who are easily convinced of the safety seats belts afford their families. 

On a great motorcycle route in ID which we've ridden many times (I  believe its highway 20, or 2) there's a spot where a "buckle up, it's the law" sign is posted a few hundred feet from a couple of small white crosses....which we were told by a waitress at a diner there were erected to  honor two bikers killed in an accident some years back....both helmet-less.

[Jess from VA]

Wow with so many here that wear a helmet why is there any need to have the choice of no helmet?

Because the G all too often thinks it's their duty and privilege to tell us subjects how to live.

So my attitude is, whenever possible, they should butt out and try to learn to govern efficiently without taxing, spending and regulating us to death. 

And I wear a helmet ALL the time, even though my helmet has never touched anything in all my falls (not counting motocross in my youth).   Although a Cadillac almost ran over my head, seconds after I was done sliding down the road one time.

[0leman]

I wear a helmet all the time.  Started wearing one after getting hit in the forehead by a June Bug in the late 60's at over the legal speed limit.   I have been in two car/bike accidents, both left turners and both drivers under 17 years old.  Both times I didn't scratch the helmet I was wearing.  The last one, I did a front roll down the street after lunging from the bike, which ended up under the front end of a 4WD van.

I agree that wearing a helmet should be a choice of all motorcycles', not a law.  That said I do advocate wearing one 100% of the time.   But it should be one's decision.

[dreamaker]

I wear a helmet all the time.  Started wearing one after getting hit in the forehead by a June Bug in the late 60's at over the legal speed limit.   I have been in two car/bike accidents, both left turners and both drivers under 17 years old.  Both times I didn't scratch the helmet I was wearing.  The last one, I did a front roll down the street after lunging from the bike, which ended up under the front end of a 4WD van.

I agree that wearing a helmet should be a choice of all motorcycles', not a law.  That said I do advocate wearing one 100% of the time.   But it should be one's decision.

The June Bug, I got hit with one of those, I was up north clipping along pretty good, I was wearing a 3/4 helmet. I got hit in the face, at that moment I thought I got hit with a hammer, I was a little scared. The spot where I got hit was totally numb, but I was OK.

[TallRider]

Its a macho thing for the Harly guys I think. Other than a few exceptions the only people I see without helmets are Harly riders. Even the Sons of Anarchy wore them

[The emperor has no clothes]

Its a macho thing for the Harly guys I think. Other than a few exceptions the only people I see without helmets are Harly riders. Even the Sons of Anarchy wore them

There are plenty of valkyrie riders without helmets. I am pretty good about wearing one. But there are still times I don't. I hardly ever seat buckle though.

[Mr Whiskey]

Wow with so many here that wear a helmet why is there any need to have the choice of no helmet?

Because the G all too often thinks it's their duty and privilege to tell us subjects how to live.

So my attitude is, whenever possible, they should butt out and try to learn to govern efficiently without taxing, spending and regulating us to death. 

[saddlesore]

#1 I think we should have a choice.
#2 I always wear a helmet.
#3 I always wonder why riders will wear boots, gloves, and full leathers (for protection)  but refuse to wear a helmet.  Does it mean that there is nothing in their head worth saving?

[crow]

When our helmet law was amended,  deaths went up slightly. However motorcycle registrations went up , way up.  As a result, deaths per 10,000 registered motorcyclists went down, the only fair way to guage.  I always wear a helmet, I do like the choice.  For quite a few years, Citrus County opted out of the mandatory Florida
 bicycle helmet law    (those under 16),  thanks to myself and ABATE of Floride Inc. ABATE successfully got language in the bill letting local Governments opt out.

[Willow]

... Even the Sons of Anarchy wore them

That lame TV show was set in California, a mandatory helmet state.

I also believe it should be the rider's choice.  I almost always wear.  I ride shieldless and generally leave my face uncovered.  I've been hit by plenty of June bugs and I can tell you it's not nearly fatal.  I was hit beak first by a bird in the forehead.  That hurt and took me a short recovery period to decide I wasn't going to pass out.

Interesting question.  In automobile collisions what is the most common cause of death?  Isn't it head injury?  Have you ever heard anyone advocate mandatory helmet laws for automobile riders?  Ever seen anyone choose to wear one? 

[Gavin_Sons]

... Even the Sons of Anarchy wore them

That lame TV show was set in California, a mandatory helmet state.

I also believe it should be the rider's choice.  I almost always wear.  I ride shieldless and generally leave my face uncovered.  I've been hit by plenty of June bugs and I can tell you it's not nearly fatal.  I was hit beak first by a bird in the forehead.  That hurt and took me a short recovery period to decide I wasn't going to pass out.

Interesting question.  In automobile collisions what is the most common cause of death?  Isn't it head injury?  Have you ever heard anyone advocate mandatory helmet laws for automobile riders?  Ever seen anyone choose to wear one? 

I saw a couple kids in a truck with their dirtbikes in the back driving around with their helmets on last spring. Then watched them get pulled over. Wonder how that conversation went? Do you know why I pulled you boys over? No sir but I'm sure it wasn't for being too safe. 

[Jess from VA]

FYI (I looked, but I could not find a definitive statement on the most common cause of death in MVAs.)

Head injury

In the Western world, the most common cause of death after trauma is severe brain injury. The incidence of death from head injury is approximately 7 per 100,000 [14], and the severely brain-injured also have the highest mean length of stay and mean hospital costs [15]. In the European Brain Injury Consortium (EBIC) study, 52% of head injuries were related to MVAs [16]. Head injury is a major cause of morbidity in survivors; disability may occur whatever the initial severity of the head injury and surviving patients with brain injury are more impaired than patients with injuries to other parts of the body. In a prospective study of nearly 3000 head injuries from Scotland, patients were stratified according to the Glasgow Coma Score (GCS) on arrival at hospital: mild injury (GCS 13-15), moderate injury (GCS 9-12) and severe injury (GCS 3-8). Of the initial cohort, 2668 had mild injuries, 133 moderate injuries, and 102 had severe injuries. At follow-up after one year, 1397 were still disabled. Of these, 1260 (90%) had been initially assessed as mild injuries[17].

http://www.worldwidewounds.com/2002/october/Bowley/Patterns-Of-Injury-MVAS.html

It did not say what the the most common cause of death after trauma was in the Eastern world.  I am thinking residuals of gun shot wounds.  If so, clearly they need more restrictive gun laws. (sorry)

[dreamaker]

The way I look at it, you can come up with all the stats you want, it doesn’t make things any better or less painful.  It seems the logical thing would be is to look for the root cause, and I would think one of the main variables would be the motorcyclist themselves.   It seems that the culprit would be, whether the helmet is or is not warn, to me, it is how did one get in that position to begin with.  I think that certain factors are the reason such as, Over Confidence, Assumptions, Distractions, Lack of Experience, Bad Road Posture and so on.  I generally don’t dog Harley people, but I have one guy on my street, he cruises with no helmet and all stretched out on the bike like it is a Lazy Boy, it would take only one car fling out of their drive to take him out.  I have a boredom game I play when I ride, and it is to predict the possibility of an insolents and how to avoid it.  I don’t assume the roads are perfect, or the people see me, or sandwich myself in traffic and even avoid riding on certain roads in my area.  Point is, don’t get yourself in the position to where have to use your helmet to survive. The helmet issue is only one part of a chain of events, that can have negative results, so don’t get there to begin with. Like I said, the choice is yours.

[GiG]

Most of the accidents in this area were from, no helmet...

REALLY?
Not wearing a helmet caused most of the accidents?!?!
Fascinating 

[Valkorado]

I think it should be the rider's choice.  That said, it just doesn't feel right for me to ride without a helmet.  Kinda like riding with bare feet wouldn't feel right.

[BobB]

I have always thought that helmets and other vehicle safety measures should be a matter of choice.  But personally, my choice is to always wear a helmet.  That stems from a incident that I witnessed long ago.

I was riding with the Milwaukee Motorcycle Club, the AMA Harley-Davidson club in the city.  We had sponsored an AMA flat track race that was North of Milwaukee, and the club members all volunteered for the various duties to carry out such an event.  The principle player, I'll call him Joe, had been serving at the beer tent, and unfortionately Joe, may have drank as much beer that he served.  On our way back, we were riding as a club, in the customary handlebar to handlebar formation (how things change).
I had taken the position directly behind Joe and was about twenty feet behind him while we were coming to a stop, when Joe's FLH fell to the left and Joe fell to the right.  His head was the first part of his body to hit the pavement at an angle of about 30^o and his head caved in to his eye socket.  I instantly though Joe was dead because I did not believe the human head could take that much damage.  Joe survived but he spent five months in a hospital.

That incident happened in 1967, now 49 years ago, and the picture of it is as clear in my mind as if it happened yesterday.  It is the primary reason why I always wear a helmet and abstain from alcohol while riding.  Susan, my bride, is another sound reason.  It is my profound hope that the choices we all make work out for the best...  

[Hooter]

Most of the accidents in this area were from, no helmet...

REALLY?
Not wearing a helmet caused most of the accidents?!?!
Fascinating 

  HMMM, I've heard that statement as well. It mostly comes from the insurance "gooroo's" who claim that not wearing a helmet will cause accidents.      Stupid on someone's part will usually cause an accident.

[czuch]

I wear if I'm riding. Its my choice.
It dosent matter what other people say. Most people don't matter.
I've heard I'll helmet up when its cold, raining, too hot, when I get older, etc, etc.
Do, Don't, what ever. I'll share wind no problem.
 I'll guarendammtee if I hadn't been wearing one on a rainy afternoon in New Mexico, I'd be slurring "S's" and have one eye looking over there...
OK, Tammy said she'd beat what was left to a pulp. I'm afraid so I do it for her.