Motorcyclist deaths spike as helmet laws loosen

[storysunfolding]

Gannet News Service is starting to run a whole slew of articles on Motorcycle safety. Here's the first that I've seen so far.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2008-03-26-bikehelmets_N.htm?csp=34

[chukyjinn]

i have to have my helmet on, it takes very little force to cause brain damage. i have enough of that already dont need anymore.

[Headlight]

They've been trying to ban the helmet law here for years now. I for one don't agree with that at all.

[rcrgirl84]

Saw the article on our local paper this morning too. Delaware has no helmet law - other than if you don't wear one, it was to be strapped to the bike :rolleyes:

I don't leave my driveway without mine.

[ncdixie]

I always wear a helment and gear. I dress for the crash and enjoy the ride.

[lee]

i still cant believe you dont have helmet laws in americaland. theres one or two people in my city that have helmet exemption certificates (medical reasons), and i just cant fathom riding without one.

i mean, i've ridden up and down an empty closed street to take someone on the back for a quick spin (lent them my helmet), but i'd never in a million years attempt traffic, of any volume.

[bighammer]

WOW, who would've guessed: Southern states with year-round riding have the highest motorcycle death rates. :newsflash:

[toxicsmootches]

I ALWAYS wear mine. Georgia has a helmet law, but SC and FL do not, but even when I visit, I just ride down the street shaking my head at all of the dumbasses.

Going to school for occupational therapy, I've already met way too many people who have been in motorcycle accidents and are now paralyzed, permanently physically disabled, or had traumatic brain injuries which have left them dependant on others for daily care. Life is way too fragile to take those kind of chances.

[Cutty72]

I wear mine 99% of the time.

Saw the first sportbike out today.
No lid, doing a wheelie down a busy street.
Gonna be another great year.

[samurai-kitty]

i have to have my helmet on, it takes very little force to cause brain damage. i have enough of that already dont need anymore.

LOL...I sometimes think I should've always worn a helmet since birth. I've hit my head too many times!

I've just seen and heard too many stories about crashing and hitting a rock with a helmet on and what it did to the helmet that could've been the head, and someone local died just taking his bike for a spin around the block after repairs and dying from hitting his head, no helmet. Pavement is harder than bone. I can't imagine going without ever, and even full-face always cuz I've had a big rock hit me in my chin cover and thought, that would've really hurt with no protection there.

We have a saying in car racing: $5 head, $5 helmet. What does that say about no helmet?

I believe that adults should have a choice when it comes to things that will only hurt them, like seatbelts, but these people cost us so much money in medical bills. If it wasn't for that, I wouldn't want a law. I would use a helmet no matter what, and it's my head. It's just thinning the herd.

[odieoh24]

helmet, smellmit, i'm 43 years old and have been riding for the past 20+ years. i wear my helmet here because the man says i have to, but anytime i travel i'm sure to see what states allow riders to go without. we ride to nh frequently, just to ride without them. if you choose to ride with your helmet thats cool, i choose to ride without and am comfortable with my personal decision-otherwise i wouldnt do it. do i think its fair or right for the government to tell us what decisions we should make for our own safety-hell no. as a vermonter i feel the the state government is holding my right to choose hostage in exchange for highway funding from the feds. we have no gun laws here and if i can buy a handgun legally, i can carry it concealed anywhere but a bar or state or federal building-we have the the 2nd lowest gun crime rate in the country. just because we have no gun laws doesnt mean we have a bunch of people going around strapped and shooting up the place!! as an adult i feel you should be able to make up your own mind-if big brother is so concerned for my safety why not provide universal health care and get our guys outta iraq. they've been fighting the war on drugs since reagan was president-have they managed to win? how much longer will the war on terror be fought before we realize we cant win that either! look at the state the greatest nation in the world is presently in and ask yourself, do the guys making the laws even know what or who theyre protecting. sorry to rant but this helmet law thing is a real sore subject for me, and i just like to stir things up.

odieoh24

[PlayfulGod]

I wear my helmet, I would if it wasnt a law here, but I think it should be a persons choice to wear it or not tho. I mean if you wanna smash you head open more power to you. Big brother shouldnt tell me I should wear my seltbelt either. And universal health care is a joke. Yea everywhere else has it, but wtf are they going to get health care?? uh yea HERE.

[Britishsteele]

When reading this, i was reminded of a guy I saw up in Albuquerque last week. We were at a light and this gorgeous 'busa pulled up next to us. It had really been done up right. But, the guy sitting on it stunned me. I wish I could have take a picture. He was wearing a tank top, bermuda shorts, sandals, no gloves, no helmet and no sunglasses...and, when the light changed to green...he took off like a bat out of hell. All i could think of was "there goes another organ donor".

I am a firm believe in a person's right to choose...Personally, I wear my helmet...it cost me a lot of money and i only have one brain...I need to protect it all I can...It would probably be a good idea if I wore it all the time as clumsy as I am...But, again, that's just me...ATGATT is my motto....

[chukyjinn]

Ohio is not a state that requires it for most riders, Ive been ridding for 15 years and been a passanger even before that. Ive ridden a few times with out in emergency situations, but i prefer my helmet.

[Chef]

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb117/the-chef/inspiration/gear.jpg

I love riding too much to not gear up. I wanna know if i bin it, I can get back on and try again. I have used this method a couple of times now.

Serious riders take riding seriously, you don't see MotoGp riders sponsored by hair-gel companies

[Britishsteele]

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb117/the-chef/inspiration/gear.jpg

I love riding too much to not gear up. I wanna know if i bin it, I can get back on and try again. I have used this method a couple of times now.

Serious riders take riding seriously, you don't see MotoGp riders sponsored by hair-gel companies

I love this poster...that's fantastic!!!

[motorcyclemiracles]

states with no current helmit laws
these are for if your over the age of 21
Arizona (AZ), Arkansas (AR), Hawaii (HI), Idaho (ID), Illinois (IL), Louisiana (LA) with proof of medical insurance, Minnesota (MN), North Dakota (ND), Ohio (OH) if 1 year riding experience, South Carolina (SC), South Dakota (SD), Texas (TX) no helmit if passed a training course and have proof of med insurance, Utah (UT), Wisconsin (WI),Wyoming (WY)

these are for if your under 21
Arizona (AZ), Hawaii (HI), Idaho (ID), Illinois (IL), Minnesota (MN), North Dakota (ND),
Ohio (OH) if 1 year riding experience, South Dakota (SD), Utah (UT), Wisconsin (WI), Wyoming (WY)

and last but not least if you are under 18 all states require you to wear a helmit

[motorcyclemiracles]

[QUOTE=toxicsmootches;84153]SC and FL do not, ,

they have helmit laws for under 21 only over 21 no helmit required

[motorcyclemiracles]

QUOTE=Chef;89086
I love riding too much to not gear up. I wanna know if i bin it, I can get back on and try again. I have used this method a couple of times now.

Serious riders take riding seriously, you don't see MotoGp riders sponsored by hair-gel companies[/QUOTE]



thats a good point :drinks:

[PlayfulGod]

I feel odd if I dont wear all my gear.

[samurai-kitty]

I feel odd if I dont wear all my gear.

Yeah, like seatbelts. I grew up in the 70s when there was no seatbelt law, and my mom never tried to buckle me in. We had a Pinto wagon which seats 4 and 5 people, so I being the youngest usually rode in the far back. Now I won't get out on the road without being buckled, and the few times I've had to I felt so vulnerable! Riding on the bus is creepy, too.

I was in a rollover accident and probably would have broken my neck if I hadn't been belted in. As it was I had a goose-egg and messed up neck just from the roof coming down and meeting my head. The paramedics said I was lucky. As far as helmets, I've seen what rocks do to helmets. Skulls are much more fragile.

[sofakingtore420]

my gear is on before my key touches the ignition

[kittswife]

People that don't wear helmets are idiots...plain and simple.

[sofakingtore420]

seen alot of those today in greenwood while waiting on ninj..

[samurai-kitty]

"Organ donors"....yep.

[gaia3465]

i don't know why some people don't wear helmets. i love my helmet. when i got off the bike, i'm not in any hurry to take it off. i love it so much and get so used to wearing it, sometimes i almost put it on before i go in a car! lol
in illinois, by law you don't have to wear a helmet on a motorcycle. luckily, almost all the people i see on sportbikes do wear helmets, and most are in their motorcycle jackets (it's the girlfriends on the back who don't look as safe...). but it's the people on those cruiser bikes who are always dressed like they should be in a car! lol:leghump: (sorry, this smilie has nothing to do with what i talked about, i just saw it now for the first time and thought it was hilarious!!!!)

[gixxergirl01]

I live in a Really small town so I don't always wear mine BUT if Im leaving town I always wear it , You Never know what dumbass will pull out in front of you ..... as far as everything else , I looked for gloves I have 1pair of fox, 3 icon & I hate them all !!!None are comfortable I have Icon jacket thats leather that I HATE as well I think the gear isn't made correct i hate that ! so I don't jacket & gloves all the time but i do when i know im leaving more than 10-15 min away from the house .

I know that everyone feels like "helmet laws" are the answer but if ya read that artical , 58% of the ones killed WERE wearing their helmet .... its all depends on the situation ... there are just idiots out there that don't respect their bikes enough to be safe and there are idiots out there that don't know how to drive that make rider's Unsafe .... Bottom line .... I feel everyone should be entitled to make their Own choice and not be criticized for their choice. I know I personally HATE to wear My helmet Cause I hate when people or tings touch my ears funny enough ....My hair is never down cause it DRIVE me INSANE ...... I hope no one thinks any less of me for this but ... Its how i feel so ...

[gaia3465]

i like the gloves, it's the jacket that is the hardest for me. sometimes it is just so hot and humid!!!

[gixxergirl01]

My Jacket the Icon leather (witch is for sale ) lol Was too stiff I couldn't more i think thats a hazard if i am not comfortable . But My New Icon Merc Jacket is Really nice now...no Jacket issues !~ I don't get too hot I get cold Im a wuss when im moving.... i get really cold .

I got a Flat tire yesterday on the back of the Gixxer and the day before i was in Md hittin the major Rts ...ya kniw cruising ... it could have been that easy i could have gotten that flat while riding that hard ... I will make more of a conscience effort to make sure im better geared up when i leave but cant Promise the Gloves thing .... I fell off bikes hit trees been hit w/ sticks Wrecked dirt bikes ,I have many close calls and I know some times I get too cocky and think that im invincible and I m not i need to gear up better thanks for this thread .... !~

[MissHell]

There is no helmet law here, however I wear mine. I prefer to ride with people who choose to wear helmets too.

[bigrob]

its called personal responsability....accept the consequences of your actions. this a strange concept to some. wearing a helmet should be a choice, just as seatbelts should be optional.

there is a reason we have so many stupid people in this world. if you are too stupid to wear a helmet maybe you should not be clogging up the gene pool.

anyway, if helmets are great why don't we require car drivers to wear them? why do we allow car drivers to eat, talkon the phone and apply make-up....even read a book while driving?