Posted on 07/13/2006 4:57:51 AM PDT by beyond the sea
Basically the mistake was simple, he is 24 and had great success and lots of cash.... He thought he was invincible, like most kids do.... fortunately this is just a wake up call for him... God decided to get his attention.
Of course I am a bit urked he wasn't cited for speeding.. they did cite him for no helmet and some other things (since he only had a permit) but he was speeding, and while his speeding wasn't the fault of the accident, it certainly contributed to it, and the severity of his injuries.
ON a bike, no matter where you are, or what you are doing, you are flying without a net.. you have to be watching everything around you and assume, no matter what, that no one else sees you.. I don't care if you make direct eye contact with the driver trying to pull into traffic.. in your brain you better be figuring out how to get around them if they pull out.
I started riding at 20, can't tell you how many close calls I've had.... or how many stupid things I've seen others on bikes do...
Uh, yea they are... if you have a permit, or have had your license less than a certain amount of time and didn't take the safety course you MUST wear a helmet... Ben only had a permit.
He legally should have had a helmet on, of course the helmet may have saved his face, but the added weight of it also might have caused his neck to snap too... Helmets aren't some panacea.
Uh, yes they are.
I don't want to embarrass anyone, but I was one of those that wrote the bill.
We MODIFIED existing law.
Helmets ARE REQUIRED IN PA.
Exemptions: 21+ years old, 2years plus riding experience and/or safety class. In this case, HELMETS BECOME OPTIONAL.
I'm wrong.
you're right.
sorry.
Where is any "fault" by Ben mentioned?
Thats why I quit riding both my bikes here in South Florida. Other drivers have NO respect for a bike. Besides, I want to live long enough to watch the black and gold win another Superbowl this year :)
;-)
Get ahold of him and tell him!
Ouch ........... well said.
I have no idea. Somehow, I don't really believe this "story".
LOL
Great post.........
That's ok. It is a mistake that almost everyone is making and its going to hurt us.
Look for a new pr campaign to try and change this perception.
For example: I was in the local grocery store parking lot. Comes in a guy on one of those 350cc monster scooters, like a cushman on steroids. Its obvious that this late 50's guy can't handle the machine.
I ask him: Been riding long? 'no'. Took the safety course? 'no'. Got an M endorsement? 'no'. Ok, where's your helmet? "don't need no f***** helmet in PA, now buzz off a&&hole!"
Case two: Sitting at a red light, comes around the corner, dad driving 250cc bike, kid on back, mom driving matching bike, kid on back. No Helmets!!!!
I chase them down. I tell them they are in for some really BIG fines. Their answer? "Oh, I thought helmets weren't needed anymore".
These are the ones that are going to hurt our cause really badly.
So Mr. Airborne, you are not alone! Please spread the word.
Great post ....... # 2.
;-)
****
LOL
Well, now I'm really gonna piss some folks off.
I tend to not mention this publicly, but I tell my kids, and anyone else, that motorcycles are dangerous with or without a helmet, and rfuse to allow either of my sons to ride.
Nah ... nearby is all that's required from them.
I chase them down. I tell them they are in for some really BIG fines. Their answer? "Oh, I thought helmets weren't needed anymore".
Good lawd! I'm so paranoid, I put on a helmet just when hopping on my bike to move it from the driveway to the shed.
I believe the woman who hit him was a Sr. Citizen from another State. I hope he doesn't sue the hell out of her...he probably came right out of nowhere.
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