Rising deaths stir new debate over helmet laws

Philadelphia Inquirer ^ | 12/01/03 | Joseph A. Gambardello

[joesnuffy]

Helmets cause accidents...you can be more aware of what is going on around you without one and hence avoid accidents..

I'll bet more bikers with helmets get into accidents than without...(if you throw out data from the pharmacologically impaired biker's accidents)

In biking where there is no traffic to watch out for...in the woods racing etc...helmets are a great idea)

imo

[Onelifetogive]

They point to a Louisiana safety commission report that estimated that 46 deaths and 73 severe injuries could have been avoided if motorcyclists had worn helmets between 1999 and 2002. The study calculated that those casualties cost the citizens of Louisiana $102 million.

Maybe the citizens of Louisiana should elect politicians who won't PISS AWAY $100 million taxpayers dollars on 119 private citizens who commit motorcide (Or is it suicycle?)

[CalvaryJohn]

Let those who ride decide. If you choose to not wear a helmet, however, you are just being foolish.

[JSteff]

There is one good thing about "No Helmet" laws. My wife is an R.N. and says that they usually leave good organ donor bodies. Unlike those who die from old age etc, most of the time the other organs are in relatively good shape.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

I dearly loved motorcycle riding and bikes of all kinds. But I sold my last one in the mid 80s. It was just sitting in the garage, waiting to kill me.

[HamiltonJay]

Motorcycle accidents by and large fall into 3 categories:

1) careless and immature bikers speeding or performing other wrecklace acts

2) Older/Baby Boomers buy far too much bike for their abilities. A 55 year old who has never ridden a motorcycle before in their life goes out and buys a machine with more power to weight ratio than the muscle car they owned in the late 60's or 70s and then promptly wraps it around a tree, or ditch or other object.

3) Caged drivers pulling out in front of them, on top of them etc etc.

I don't buy into the argument not wearing a helmet makes you safer or more aware, it doesn't. Don't believe government should be telling adults they have to wear one either.

I personally think that the policy of requiring age and experience to be a prerequisite to bike licensing, similar to Germany would be the best course from a public safety perspective... IE The larger and more powerful bike you are licensed to drive, is in direct perportion to your age and experience. Its not going to happen, but that's a far more sound public policy from a public safety perspective than simple mandatory helmets.

[doxteve]

"Let those who ride decide. If you choose to not wear a helmet, however, you are just being foolish."

Good idea all around. But why not have a law stating that if a rider wears a helmet and is injured insurance will cover him. If not the state and insurance companies are off the hook. Let the bikers form a mutual insurance company to give life long care to an injured biker. If the biker has no insurance, wears no helmet, then he's on his own.

My wife retired from our state's Department of Vocational Rehabilitation. Her worst cases were paralyzed, closed head injury, and otherwise severely injured bikers. Most cases cost the state over a million bucks PLUS long term care. She won't let me on a bike, and I can't blame her.

[JoeFromCA]

How many miles have you ridden in your lifetime?

[ElectricStrawberry]

Forgot to mention "impaired riding"...on a bike, it's way more inportant to be aware of EVERYTHING around you than when driving...any impairment isn't good. However, your other pointsw are perfectly specified...the increase in crotch-rocket sales to young, uneducated riders (driving OR riding) adds up in accidents.

[HELLRAISER II]

If & when you ride a motorcycle without a helmet, you most definately are taking your life in your own hands. I hate some laws as much as the next guy, but helmets should be required when riding on the asphalt. Just my most humble opinion.

[uglybiker]

Hooligan PING.

[stainlessbanner]

brain bumper is a must

I trust myself, but I don't trust drivers.

[HELLRAISER II]

My dad use to tell me something similar, he said "Son, it's not that I don't trust your driving, it's the other 100,000 idiots on the road i'm worried about." and you know what, he & you are absolutely correct.

[nothingnew]

What are "do-rags"?

FMCDH

[Holly_P]

Bandana to keep your hair "do" in place.

"Dew" rags are bandanas used as sweat bands.

[BraveMan]

Louisiana's Fatality Rate Experience with the Reenactment of a Helmet Law – A Classic "Misrepresentation" of the Facts

Did Louisiana have a 30% reduction in fatalities when they reenacted a helmet law 1982 as compared with fatalities from '76 - '81?

This is a classic "misrepresentation" of the facts. After Louisiana reinstated a mandatory helmet law in 1982, the NUMBER of fatalities decreased ONLY because of a substantial DECREASE in the number of registered motorcyclists. The fatality rate (fatalities/100 accidents) actually went UP, which is contrary to what is implied by the insurance industry.

Yes, fatality rates for motorcyclists DID increase from 1976 through 1981 in states that repealed their mandatory helmet laws. What the anti-choice folks never mention is the fact that fatality rates actually rose slightly HIGHER during the same time period in states that still maintained a mandatory helmet law when compared to "repeal" states. There was also a corresponding increase in fatality rates among drivers of compact vehicles and light trucks. These increases were due to the increased usage of economical transportation by new and inexperienced riders and drivers during the "energy crisis". This can be easily verified through NHTSA. It should be noted that approximately 70-85% of all motorcycle fatalities occur among NEW riders (less than one year of riding experience) and that with any significant increase in motorcycle registrations comes a corresponding increase in fatalities.

From BULLET POINTS FOR ADULT CHOICE ON THE HELMET LAW ISSUE

[Tax Government]

State legislators all over the country should be wearing motorcycle helmets while doing official business. I advocate a referendum in each state to force this.

Soft heads need protection.

[friendly]

Fine: no helmet, no Medicare/disabilty/welfare when you end up a brain damaged vegetable as so many bikers do. The problem is that the low lifes on hogs are always demanding their welfare.

[Jim Cane]

The number of fresh organs harvested from truly dead riders to save other people's lives more than makes up for a few vegitables.

A dear friend of mine needs a new pancreas. Someone's gonna hafta die.

I believe in repealing seat belt laws for all adults as well.