Motorcylce helmet laws

[demsvmejm]

Here in Michigan there is a movement to to repeal the long standing motorcylce helmet law. I believe helmets should be compulsory. What ore your thoughts?<br />I won't ride without my full-faced Snell approved helmet. I know people who won't ride with anything more than a half helmet. I've read studies, albeit years ago, and there's volume of evidence that helmets save lives.<br />Please save your bytes if all you can say is that government doesn;t have the right to dictate your personal behavior or shouldn't tell you what to do, like wearing seat belts. I would like to have educated reasoned responses as I am opening my opinion to debate.<br /><br />The proposal currently is to allow riders with more than 2 year sexperience an dover 21 years old to choose. I think that the legislature should go further. To ensure compliance by those who do not meet the lenient conditions, I think that a safety course should be mandatory and then a special license plate (with an extra fee) be required. With stiff penalties for loaning your specially licensed bike to an unqualified rider for the purpose of riding without a helmet. I think there should be a higher license fee for the no helmet riders because like it or not the care of an injured rider will be higher without a helmet than with a helmet, if the rider survives.<br /><br />Your thoughts, opinions, and factual information are welcome. Thanks guys and gals .

 

[RubberFrog]

Re: Motorcylce helmet laws

I think only an idiot would ride without a helmet, or with a half helmet. With that said, I think it should be a matter of choice.

 

[Kenneth Brown]

Re: Motorcylce helmet laws

Oh chit Dave, here we go again. I know you don't wish to hear it but really, what difference should it make to the govt if I wear my helmet or not? You did make an incorrect statement that I will be happy to point out. You say the care will be higher, although you did say if he survives. Most all cases were the rider is in a severe case or comatose he would be dead if he wasn't wearing a helmet. Dead folks don't cost much, just a one time fee. I pay my own health insureance, as most people do. Why does the govt care what it cost? Lets throw seatbelts in here. I don't like the law but will abide by it and enforce it. If you are driving and go off the roadway there is a better chance WITH A SEATBELT that you can regain control. That being true I will give a seatbelt its props. If I lay my bike down there ain't a snowballs chance that it will stand back up and I can control it.

 

[snapperbait]

Re: Motorcylce helmet laws

I think there should be a higher license fee for the no helmet riders because like it or not the care of an injured rider will be higher without a helmet than with a helmet, if the rider survives.<br />

That extra fee might be fine and dandy, if the state were paying the medical bills of injured riders... Do as the state of Florida did when the helmet law was repealed... <br /><br />" a person over 21 years of age may operate or ride upon a motorcycle without wearing protective headgear securely fastened upon his or her head if such person is covered by an insurance policy providing for at least $10,000 in medical benefits for injuries incurred as a result of a crash while operating or riding on a motorcycle."<br /><br />In my eyes, an extra state imposed extra fee, unless quite substantial $$$, would'nt deter many riders who wish to go helmetless...

 

[Winger Ed.]

Re: Motorcylce helmet laws

Back when I was riding a bike, helmets were mandatory. I wore a full shell Bell Magnum that was never more than 2 years old. I had people all the time tell me I paid too much for my helmets, and I was 'just buying the name'......<br /><br />I told them, "Well, If you have a $20. head,,,,<br />what the heck,,,,, wear a $20. helmet".<br /><br /><br />When helmet laws were repealed, then re-instated for young riders in Texas, I still wore a full shell Bell. And for those who chose not to--- I figure the same basic philosophy applys...

 

[roscoe]

Re: Motorcylce helmet laws

Helmetless accident victims probably have lower costs, cause they are dead.<br /><br />Too many hoops to jump thru to enjoy an activity.<br />Written test. Fee charged<br />Driver training courses. fees charged<br />Driving test. fee charged<br />Special license. fee charged<br />Another test and license if you want to ride a larger bike. fee charged<br />Special plates. fee charged<br />Special classes if you want to go without a helmet. fee charged<br />Another special license that says you can ride without a helmet, with a higher fee? !!<br />Special lclasses, testing, license, if you want to ride on a rainy day. fee charged<br />Extra classes, testing, license, if you want to ride on a sunny day, cause you could get sunburned. fee charged<br />And where does all this extra revenue go? Certainly not into rider/driver education or medical expenses. <br /><br />Give me a break.<br />Go after the cellphone drivers and leave the bikers alone.<br /><br />Personally, done the MSF classes a couple times and wear a helmet 99.9% of the time.<br /><br />My last 2 helmets cost more than my first 2 bikes did.<br /><br />Sorry snapperbait, have to disagree. Seen laws like this before and they have a few problems.<br />Gives the ins companies a blank check to rob the riders for the mandatory coverages. It doesn't work like the mandatory auto ins laws because you have a small fraction of the population.<br /><br />Also, if no company chooses to offer the insurance coverage mandated by the law, then the "insured activity" is in effect outlawed. This has happened in the past. Like requiring all hunters and gun owners to take a state approved gun safety course, but there was no state approved course available.

 

[aspeck]

Re: Motorcylce helmet laws

It should be up to the individual. I hear motorists coming from the side roads much better without a helmet, and am much more alert to things around me. With that said, I very seldom hit the road without a helmet. But it is MY choice.<br /><br />KB mentioned seatbelts. That is one piece of hardware I just cannot buckle. Was in an accident where I would have probably been killed had I not been able to crawl under the dash as we were flying over the cliff, nose diving at the bottom 50 feet away, and then rolling on our roof, right over a huge rock. The roof of the Chevy Chevette my frind was driving was smashed below the dash level (snow on the road and driving a tad too fast - about 30 mph - caused it). I relive that experience everytime a seat belt clicks.<br /><br />BTW, we both walked away without a scratch, and were not sore the next day.<br /><br />So to you officers out there, I will be honest with you and tell you I was not wearing a seat belt, take the fine, and go on my way, but I will not click the thing around my waist, and will not lie about it.<br /><br />Sorry to get off subject, David, but not really - it is all about liberties and what the government tells us we have to do or not do. THEY want to be our parents.

 

[JB]

Re: Motorcylce helmet laws

Without MC helmets I would have two fewer living children, 6 fewer grandchildren. . . .and no great grandson.<br /><br />Next question?

 

[JRJ]

Re: Motorcylce helmet laws

When I started riding, helments were available but used by few. I would rather ride without. My sons were never allowed to ride without a helmet and they wear them without a gripe. I won't wear a helmet riding my 4-wheeler. That said, there is no doubt helmets reduse head injurys but should be optional.

 

[one more cast]

Re: Motorcylce helmet laws

Here we go again... No question helmets save some lives but I also have a sticker on my helmet that says Helmet laws suck. One thing that helmets do is create a false sense of security. One of the best feelings in the world is riding on a back country road with the breeze blowing through your hair. Also the last time I checked, in most states that dropped the helmet law, the death rate percentage want down. I just think the government is all screwed up when it comes to laws. Way more people die from cigarettes and drinking then riding without a helmet but smoking and drinking is OK. As JB said "Next question?"

 

[eeboater]

Re: Motorcylce helmet laws

When I was in the USCG Aux, I was talking with a Full-time EMT shortly after I got my Motorcycle license. I had been using my Dad's half helmet until I had the cash to upgrade to a full helmet. He saw my half helmet and proceeded to tell me a story about a rescue call he went on. He said a motorcyclist top-sided his bike and slid down the highway on his face.<br /><br />His head was fine. He was missing a Nose, Jaw, teeth, and a lot of the skin that wasn't protected.<br /><br />I bought my full-face helmet next day.<br /><br />OMC -- I might have to contradict you a bit. Yes, they may give a false sense of security. But my best frined from High school was travelling up a mountain last month at about 30-35 mph when some jack@ss "newbie rider" came down the hill way too fast for the conditions and sideswiped my friend on his bike. My friend and his bike hit the ground and slid for about 50 feet. He distinctly remembers his head dragging, bouncing, and griding on the concrete, gravel then grass. If he wasn't wearing that protective gear (helmet, riding gloves, riding jacket, and riding pants) I guarantee he wouldn't have gotten up and drove his bike home.<br /><br />Sean

 

[NYMINUTE]

Re: Motorcylce helmet laws

Up to the rider, but I expect the insurance companies will raise the rates if the riders choose not to. Heck, they'll raise the rates if you even think about not wearing it.

 

[kenimpzoom]

Re: Motorcylce helmet laws

As long as the rider will effect no one but himself, I think he should be able to ride without a helmet.<br /><br />But I always wear a helmet when riding the dirt bike. I always wore my Snell M95 helmet while riding in Thailand. But it was the law over there.<br /><br />Ken

 

[Drowned Rat]

Re: Motorcylce helmet laws

I've been a paramedic for 17 years and I've seen a lot of motorcycle accidents. In my experience, at least 90% of the fatalities are with riders not wearing a helmet. That's not to say that those wearing helmets don't get hurt, but most often they survive and at least have a chance.

 

[mattttt25]

Re: Motorcylce helmet laws

for those of you who don't think you should need to wear helmets.... do you also think it's wrong for the uscg or state to dictate all the safety requirements needed on your boat? no troll here, but isn't it the same thing? if i'm following the logic here, then you believe you don't need life vests onboard, correct?

 

[Limited-Time]

Re: Motorcylce helmet laws

I have a friend that’s an ER doctor, and a MC rider. He has done extensive research on the subject of MC safety and from a strictly safety standpoint your best bet to avoid an accident or injury is to ride in numbers. So maybe that should figure somehow in to the laws. That said when Dr. Buddy rides solo the bucket goes on. If he is in a group he goes bucket less. Myself I rode for about 12 years, 9 to 11K miles a year. Lived in Northeast Ohio at the time and enjoyed having the choice. Went both topped, and topless, although most time I did strap on the bucket. Also always had the latest SNELL rated Simpson Mdl 32 out, kind of figured if I am putting one on might as well be a good one. My vote would be choice. But if your going to mandate helmet usage, the required helmet should pass the currant highest rating (SNELL) for the year it was produced. As far as the riders experience being a factor, that’s a tough call. That kind of implies an experienced rider is less likely to involved in an accident. When in reality their probably just less likely to be at fault, but no less injured. As for the financial aspect that’s to big a can of worms for me to open. Just my .02 cents worth FWIW.<br /><br />L-T

 

[BoatBuoy]

Re: Motorcylce helmet laws

I think seat belts on motorcycles should also be mandatory.

 

[JustMrWill]

Re: Motorcylce helmet laws

I believe in seatbelts and helmets but I don't believe that it is the states RIGHT to MAKE me wear them. Sure...require minors to wear seatbelts but adults should have a choice. I wear them because I value my life. I am hurting nobody if I don't wear them. From my understanding (I could be way off here)...the state mandated seatbelt/helmet laws are put in place because the states get more money for road maint etc if they are required. This is because the federal government officials that dictate the funds get kick-backs from the insurance companies if they "do business" this way.<br /><br />-JustMrWill

 

[90skichallenger]

Re: Motorcylce helmet laws

Hey, <br />There is a term for people that dont wear a helmet or a seatbelt ...Its called natural selection. Seriously I wont ride without after working in the health care fiels. I have seen too many preventable fatalaties due to those choices. But I say let people choose. Its their life.

 

[SpinnerBait_Nut]

Re: Motorcylce helmet laws

I always wear my helmet. That what I choose to do.<br />I also wear my seatbelts, but that is by choice also.<br />If I want to go out here and kill myself by not wearing them, that's my choice also.<br />I will not kill you by taking off my helmet, or not wearing my seatbelt.