Helmets and tourism?

[Mountaineer]

[wraithR1]

It should be the riders choice what gear he or she choses to wear.  

That being said, I rarely ride without a helmet.  Also, I will never judge someone that doesn't ride with one.  I could care less.

Caveat:  If there was direct and substantiated link to people not wearing helmets and an increase in my insurance, then my tune would change.

[dgyver]

It will be interesting if he gets the law repealed.

I agree that helmet use should be rider's choice. I have been in serious wrecks with and without a helmet. Living in a state that does not require helmet use for 21+ year old riders, I always wear a helmet now. Odd that SC has a mandatory seatbelt law.

[Jake D]

Missouri may repeal their helmet law as well.  

I live one block from the Kansas state line.  Kansas has no helmet law, so I've ridden without it.  I didn't feel scared.  But I prefer to wear it, for sure.

[cummuterguy]

I'm in Florida, so I have a choice. I rarely ever ride without, unless it's just around the house. I find it uncomfortable at higher speeds without anyway.

[mastrind]

See.....I have a big time problem with helmet laws.....I'm in favor of them....it's a safety issue.....the same as seat belts.....


I think new riders should have to wear them for at least 2 years or until 25 yrs old....they should also have to have an identifier on their plate showing that they are new to the sport.....too many kids getting killed trying to look "cool"....

I also have a problem with motorcyclists who don't wear helmets abusing the legal/insurance polices.....basically if you are hurt (or die) as a result of not wearing a helmet.....you should not be allowed to sue or receive insurance compensation for injuries that could have been averted by wearing said helmet......additionally in the event a motorcyclist is killed in an accident, the other drivers involved in the accident, shouldn't be charged with manslaughter (or vehicular homicide, etc.) if the motorcyclist might have lived had he been wearing a helmet.....

I think insurance rates should be drastically higher for people who ride without helmets.....to the extent wear they carry millions of dollars in liability....(doesn't CA have this policy).....

....JMO.....

[weaselnoze]

i dont want to sound sympathetic to bad drivers at all, but does anyone look at it from their point of view?  say ur driving along to the grocery store and u hit a motorcyclist.   the rider now sits in critical condition in the hospital on the verge of dying.  now REGARDLESS of whos fault it was, i would be shitting my pants, praying to GOD that this guy lives.  yes because he/she has a family and a life and all that but in addition to that, my ass is on the line.  if this guy dies i could be in a lot of trouble.   just a thought..

[tdan553527]

No law here in Arkansas, unless your under 21, but nevertheless, I always wear mine.

[roguegeek]

I have a problem with the government regulating a lot of things and helmet laws would be one of those things. Personally, I would never ride without a full-faced helmet that meet both DOT and SNELL approvals. Rider's choice, but I think smart riders ride with proper protective gear.

[Jake D]

Many states already have a form of the system you propose.

It is called contributory negligence.  If the plaintiff contributed to their own injury through their own negligence, then they are barred from recovering.  

Most states, I believe (such as my home state) have gone to a different system, which is known as comparative fault.  If the jury awards a plaintiff (read, injured motorcycle rider) $1,000,000, but concludes that the motorcycle rider was 50% at fault, his recovery will be limited to $500,000.  

So, in many circumstances, comparative fault and contributory negligence take care of the issues you have concerns with.  

In my mind, riding a motorcycle without a helmet is a "known risk" that the rider "assumes", like playing a contact sport.  If you are going to do it, you have to protect YOURSELF and not rely on others to protect you, because they have no duty towards you, because you knew you were doing something dangerous.

[roguegeek]

I think new riders should have to wear them for at least 2 yearsor utill 25 yrs old... they should also have to have an identifier on their plate showing that they are new to the sport...

Somewhat agree. Being a new rider myself, I'd love for there to be a way for cars around me to identify me as one. I mean more than me having the occasional stall and looking real dumb. Maybe (a real big maybe) they'll be a little more sympathetic and careful around you.

[Rema1000]

Who knows, riding helmetless could lower medical insurance, if enough people kill themselves rather than getting an all-over body scar.  On the other hand, I carry life insurance, and my policy won't pay out if I die racing m/c.  If the repeals of helmet laws increase the expected chance of death enough, I might find that I'm not covered while riding m/c at all.

I would lump helmet use in about the same category as seatbelt use.

[weaselnoze]

in japan they have symbols they put on their cars to differentiate between junior drivers and senior drivers.  some other jdm guy here might have a pic?

[goat]

Maybe (a real big maybe) they'll be a little more sympathetic and careful around you.

They'd have to see you first, and that's usually a large part of the battle.

[Kerry]

[cernunos]

Why not carry the insurance thing a bit further...if you wreck and are severely injured as a result of speeding or racing on the street the insurance company doesn't have to pay for your injuries.    Love the Baby bike and what a forum!

C.......

[Dom]

I wiped out on my bicycle once and cracked the inner foam liner on the helmet.  Seems like it would have taken alot of force to do that.  Who knows what kind of damage I might have incurred, but it would probably have been bad.  I don't support the helmet law but I abide by it.  I say if you want to exponentially increase your chances of injury or death by not wearing one you should be able to.

[groff22]

This is really interesting to see the diverse stance on helmet laws. Helmets are mandatory here in NS and I'm glad - I agree with weaslenoze's response from the point of view of a collison.

My head / motor skills are worth a hell of a lot more than a $300 piece of plastic



JG

[Susuki_Jah]

VA is trying to repeal the law as well, also VA is trying to introduce lane splitting as a legal action.

You know whats funny is if the govt was worried about our safety they would make better roads and offer better safety precautions on the road for motorcyclists . In VA, most of the lights will not change for a single rider. in fact to get through a light you must run the red light. this is not the case in the city though where they have older timed lights that work much better IMO. the other thing is gravel on the streets, cant they clean this up? and when it snows we have sand up the ass, this poses very dangerous enviroments for all two wheelers. I experienced wrecking the other day because of a 2 foot wide and deep round pot hole that was not marked or seen, they had gravel covering the front of it up so you could not see how deep it was. i couldnt get over because 4 wheel vehicle drivers are assholes most of the time so i had to hit the brakes HARD!! it put the bike in a skid once it hit the gravel and I went down along with my bike. now tell me they care about our safety?  I wear a helmet all the time but I would like to take it off and cruise in the summer on the slow moving city streets here and there. gotta show the girls my pretty face .

the fact is the govt could care less about how safe we are its just another bullshit law for them to make money off of. I would choose to wear a helmet but its up to the rider.

[mastrind]

....yeah....I forgot about that sand thing in VA.....that's some funny f#$kin sh$t man....