PA State Helmet Enforcement

[cjs159]

Not sure if this has been brought up, but the State of Pennsylvania has passed and approved an ammendment to the law that motorcyclists must have head gear on at all times.  The new ammendment, do not quote me, states that licensed riders with two years + of experience now have the option to ride with or without out a helmet.  Since this motion has started, there has been several debates in both my hometown of Pittsburgh, and my 'home away from home' in Erie, whether this ammendment should have been passed.  I was curious as to what GS'ers opinion was on this topic.  As for myself, I will continue to wear my headgear at all times, because you just don't know.  You should ride for fun but prepare for the fall.  Yet, I do not disagree with giving people the option.  Comments...

[JohNLA]

I prefer our lane splitting law :mrgreen:  :nana:

[cjs159]

and what might that be...

[The Buddha]

In stopped traffic you can ride between cars. That is lane splitting, of course you should be very careful, do it at only around 10-15 mph speed differential max and never exceed 25 or some like that. That is CA version. Great at traffic lights, or stopped traffic in highways of which there is plenty in CA.
Helmet...well I cant even keep my eyes open at any more than 20 or so...Helmet law or no helmet law I need one.
Cool.
Srinath.

[cjs159]

Was in Singapore last year, and they have the same law...seems like havoc to me.  You have a ton of bikes at the front of a line of traffic.  In order to get lane position again, they have to hull ass to get infront of the car they were originally beside.  In the law, does it say that autos have to give way to bikes?  

Another note on the helmet issue, myself and many others have agreed, if riding a local route, the helmet can stay at home.  Still, just bought a new mod helmet to show it off, not to leave it at home to collect dust.

[jake42]

from an anatomical perspective your brain is a semi-solid gelatinous mass that weighs about 3 pounds. It is anchored inside your skull by a thin membrane of connective tissue that is about 1/8th inch thick and a shell of bone that's approximately 1/4 inch.  So that's about 3/8 of inch plus or minus a little CSF... So  will i continue to wear my helmet everywhere i go including dicking around on the street in front of my house.  

here's to gov rendell--- :nana:
lower my taxes, provide decent education, make people wear helmets

jake

[snapper]

In MA they are or were looking to repeal the helmet law.  What I can't understand is they are so friggin adamant about the seatbelt law.  Click-it or ticket, seatbelts save lives..etc.  Oh and they go on abut how all they want to do is save lives.  
Now how can they tell me on one hand that I have to wear a seatbelt, then on the other tell me I don't have to wear a helmet?  Seems to me if they want to save lives so bad, they shouldn't repeal the helmet law!

If they do repeal it... you'll see me out there with my full face helmet on every time!  I'll be in the proper riding gear and so forth.  Regardless of the seatbelt law, I wear my seatbelt.

This stuff confuses me.  

[pantablo]

This stuff confuses me.  

You make a great point! Seems most bikers want freedom of choice. I think its absurd. CA has a helmet law (everyone must wear one regardless of experience) and what you get is a bunch of cruiser riders wearing non-DOT approved beanies to satisfy the "letter of the law" but providing them with no protection.

This issue is very contentious with bikers all around. I think without the law too many people don't wear them....they should be mandatory I think.

[snapper]

Yes I agree- make it mandatory.  And why not start constantly pulling over the idiots who wear the beanies.  Then use the $ that is raised from these tickets and put it into the MSF courses so they are cheaper for people to take; and so they can pay the instructors a bit more.
:mrgreen:

[JasonB]

Yep, here in MI they take all the money from registration of Cycle endorsements to pay for MSF and we just pay $25 for the class. Dunno what instructors get paid. The Gov here is trying to take that money for something else and make the MSF a privately funded and run thing and will prob cost a lot more.

And yes helmets should be used at all times it will cut down on costs for hospital visits which will lower our health insurance and then maybe the Government will pay for it like Canada.

I am also all for pulling the bikers over with those little helmets with the DOT sticker they got from the swap meet thrown on it. I am Glad MI has a helmet law, but just to the south Ohio doesnt.

I do notice all the sportbike riders wear full helmets and some protective gear. While the cruisers dont. Tho there are always those squids that wear nothing in OH.

[glenn9171]

The seatbelt law is in effect because if they don't have it and enforce it, they don't get Federal Highway Funds.  They don't get money for enforcing a helmet law.  That is it, plain and simple.  They get money for seatbelts.  They get votes for giving us our "freedom" with the lack of a helmet law.

[cjs159]

They get votes for giving us our "freedom" with the lack of a helmet law.

How true it is...still, on my behalf, I've lived in Columbia, SC for sometime, where there has never been a helmet law.  Most southeastern US states don't have one for that fact.  Guess I'm just used to not seeing people with them.  I'm going to wear mine, regardless, but it's nice to have the option.  Still...on the other hand, much warmer down south, which could be a factor, doesn't get very warm, at least that often in PA.

[JohNLA]

I am not into having the man tell me what to do. Be it seat belts or helmets. I know they both save lives and I do not actually have an argument for seat belts. Except unless you have a real bad sun burn :x  I say make some one responsable for ther own actions but give them freedom to do whatever, as long as it is not hurting anyone else. This is the land of freedom, right? If someone wrecks on a bike without wearing a helmet and they have insuficiant insurance, I say let darwinism take over. I will not be a burden to society if I want to drive down my favorite stretch of road with the wind in my hair and I have insurance. It should be my perogative to do so.
U.S.A.
U.S.A.
U.S.A.

[JasonB]

If they are that far down on the dumb scale not to wear a helmet odds are they dont have a job that has insurance, or even a job or insurance for that matter.

And county hospitals cant turn away people even if they dont have insurance..and who pays for that..uh we do. Everyone pays for it in the end, either higher tax rates, higher insurance, higher hospital cost. You cant just give things away and not think they will make it up in other places.

[glenn9171]

Here in Louisiana, our law states that if you are under 18, you must weat a DOT spec helmet.  Over 18 and you do not have to wear one.  But if you are not wearing a helmet, you must show proof of at least $10,000 of insurance for medical coverage.  But the police never check for this.  They check whether or not your exhaust is street legal, but not if a non-helmeted rider is following the law.  

[JohNLA]

I guess your right in the fact that there is free health care here to those who don't bother to get it. At least in emergency situations. Anyways, my point was made but your arguement was better.
I just want a solution that will let me occasionally pretend to be Peter Fonda in Easy Rider

[JasonB]

Maybe we should talk to our Senators about doing helmet funding like seatbelt funding and see how things change then. I see nothing wrong with a helmet even in the hottest heat you can wear one there are more choices than just a fullface. I wear a fullface with no vents in 90+ weather and just leave the visor cracked a bit.

Ah well sometimes you cant get it thru some peoples head that its there to protect you. They will wish thier head is as thick as we think it is when it impacts the ground.  :nana:

[cjs159]

Ahh, the Easy Rider reference...great movie!  Still, seen to many people scared for life because of not wearing a damn helmet.  Best case being in my MSF course when the instructor brought in his helmet and the damage it took after slamming into a deer going 60mph at night on Int. 79.  Guy would have no face left if he even wore a half helm.  On that note, I'm all about our freedoms, without getting into the politics of it ,ie. insurance this, healthcare that, cops, but when it comes down to dollars, I'm up in the air, hate losing money I could be putting into the GS!  

[powrful1]

Here in Kansas there is the under 18, but no over 18 law.

Funny thing, is I see 80% without helmets on the streets and highways.

The really interesting thing is seeing a helmet strapped to the back of the bike, not on the head....atleast in a spill it will offer the bike some added protection when the family sells the bike to someone else when the rider can't ride anymore! :guns:

[mrslush50]

let people do whatever they want.  If they're stupid enough to ride without a helmet, then fine.  Who cares.  Since when is it the governments place to tell people they can't be stupid?

As long as they're not putting others in danger, it's every moron's right to not wear a helmet, or a seatbelt, or to stand up on a roller coaster, or to jump off a bridge, or get in the ring with Mike Tyson.