Should wearing a helmet be optional for motorcycle riders?..

External Since: Jul 03, 2003 Posts: 19

"Zypher" <no-spam.DeleteThis@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:banNa.80090$Io.7328436@newsread2.prod.itd.earthlink.net...
> If my state requires (which they do) me to wear a helmet, then, by proxy,
> they SHOULD be liable for any consequences of their (the state's) law.
But
> they're not! When they (the state) are ready to print a list of
"approved"
> helmets, (which they haven't) and then accept the risk of those injuries
> that are caused by me wearing the helmet, then yea, mandatory helmets.
>
><snip, yadda, yadda, yadda>

What it boils down to, it's the law in most states...if you don't like the
law, get enough people to sign a petition to get a repeal brought up in your
next legislative session, so the people can vote on it. I think it's funny,
but seat belts are mandatory in most, if not all states now. Is that
infringing on your rights? If it is, petition to have it appealed. That's
the only way it's going to get overturned. Helmet law, seat belt law, any
other law that you feel restricts your right to chose, you do have the right
to petition for change, that's your voice. This is an old, very old
subject, that never gets resolved. I've been riding for 32 years, wearing a
helmet all that time, mind you, my choice, and wearing it hasn't detracted
from the thrill of riding a motorcycle one bit. Just like I put my seat
belt on every time I get in the cage, it doesn't take anything away from the
driving experience. A helmet saved my life, and that one time is all that I
need to convince me that I need to wear a helmet. If I never need it again,
I'll feel very fortunate, but the fact that I did need it that one time and
it was there to do it's job, is enough for me to always wear one. But, and
I say but, that is my choice. I personally don't care if you want to wear a
helmet or not, just like I don't care if you wear your seat belt. If you
get picked up for not wearing a seat belt, then pay your fine, but you can
say that you had the right to choose whether you wear one or not. Don't
wear a helmet, if you don't want to, and pay the fines when you get picked
up. It's your choice. Like I used to tell my troops in the Navy, "you can
do anything you want, as long as you're willing to accept the consequences
for your actions". That holds true in every aspect of where you think your
"rights" are impinged upon. I paid good money for my cars, just like I paid
good money for my motorcycle, but that fact doesn't give me the right to
choose to wear a seat belt or a helmet. It's the law in my state for both
and it's the law in most states....if you don't like it, you have four
choices: 1) disobey the law, that can get expensive, and eventually get
your license suspended; 2) Move to a state that doesn't have the law (that
can be totally disruptive and also very expensive); 3) Obey the law and live
with it; or 4) Get your legislature to repeal the law. But have your ducks
in a row when you approach them, they've already heard the "right to decide"
arguement, and to quote H. Ross Perot, "That dog don't hunt". You better
have facts and figures to back up your claim that not wearing helmets is
just as safe as wearing one. Then and only then, will you have a fighting
chance to get the law repealed. Until then....ride safe.

Red
'02 ULTRA

--------------------------------------------
Harley-Davidson Motor Cycles:
"If I have to explain...
You wouldn't understand."

External Since: Jul 05, 2003 Posts: 4

Paraplegic ... result of spinal cord damage ... often caused by some well
intentioned person trying to remove a helmet or the hyperextention caused by
the additional weight of the helmet ... helmets can often save a life but at
what cost to the later quality .... let the rider decide ... there are many
pro and cons ....

"closed" <closed DeleteThis @neo.rr.com> wrote in message
news:rJMMa.360522$VP.54446298@twister.neo.rr.com...
> What do we ER staff call motorcycle crash victims who do wear helmets?
> paraplegics...
>
> ~D
>
> "RedDevil" <reddevil@cox(nospam).net> wrote in message
> news:W7LMa.1967$ZT5.380@news2.east.cox.net...
  > > "Robkamel" <dwarner1 DeleteThis @rochester.rr.com> wrote in message
  > > news:LDKMa.31827$iZ3.11981@twister.nyroc.rr.com...
   > > > I'll vote yes when all those who don't want to wear helmets agree to
> sign
  > > a
   > > > waiver that states they're ineligible for any government paid
disability
  > > by
   > > > doing so.
   > > >
   > > >
  > > I'm all for let the rider decide. Just don't raise my medical insurance
> to
  > > pay for all the veggies that are in the hospital on life support.
During
> my
  > > motorcyle safety course, I have two words that describe those that
choose
  > > not to wear helmets - "organ donors". I firmly believe in helmets
because
  > > one saved my life when a cage broadsided me. So I would wear one based
on
  > > personal beliefs and experience even if it wasn't mandated by law in
  > > Virginia.
  > >
  > >
>
>
>