Motorcycle helmets on NTSB's 'Most Wanted' list

CNN ^ | 11-16-10 | Ed Hornick,

[WOBBLY BOB]

Washington (CNN) -- The National Transportation Safety Board Tuesday called on states to require all motorcycle riders wear helmets.

The announcement, made at a news conference in Washington, is part of the NTSB's "Most Wanted List of Transportation Safety" -- an initiative directed at state governments.

The board added motorcycle safety to the list this year and dropped recreational boating safety -- an area it said improvements have been made.

[Ace the Biker]

I wore a helmet for two tours in Viet Nam to defend my rights to ride a motorcycle without one now that I’m a free spirit civilian. It’s my head and the gov needs to leave it alone.

[RobRoy]

>>As long as I don’t have to pay when they scramble their brains, then you are correct.<<

I remember having an argument with an officer of the Cascade bycycle club back in the 1980’s. He was a proponent of bicycle helmet laws and I was more, ah, libertarian on the issue. He used that same argument.

I asked him what he would say if someone proposed a law to ban bicycles from our highways and they said, “I’d be against the law if I didn’t have to pay for the health costs of bike riders (even wearing helmets) that are injured in accidents with automobiles.”?

The real problem is that we all have to pay into it, and it opens the door to outlawing everything from riding without a helmet to skydiving, rock climbing, heck, even hiking.

It is none of the government’s business unless the activity endangers other people directly, e.g. driving while intoxicated.

[TexasTransplant]

***** “ I have been saying,it is only a matter of time before we will have to wear protective helmets, while driving our cars.” ******

I have been saying,it is only a matter of time before we will have to wear protective helmets, while in the Shower.

[MarkL]

If it isn’t interstate, it’s none of their business.

Given how congress has abused the interstate commerce clause, it's amazing that they don't demand we all wear helmets at all times, even when sitting in your lounge chair at home (wearing your seat belt!)

Mark

[Dr. Bogus Pachysandra]

Well,,, While visiting a friend who had a head injury, a bullet, at a very intensive care facility, I asked him what all the other patients were there for. He told me, “Motorcycle accidents.” Many of them had had their insurance maxed out, and were on the public dole. That’s when I decided that helmet laws were reasonable.

[MarkL]

I agree with you, that it should be up to the rider. Personally, I've only ridden my bike on the roads without a helmet once, and I was only going 2 blocks to a McDonalds. And during that short time, I've never felt more naked.

And regarding eye protection, I can't imagine riding without it. But I actually saw some riders, sans helmets and eye protection, riding in South Dakota during the monarch butterfly migration!

Mark

[martin_fierro]

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[archy]

We're working with our state legislators [Wyoming] to require that any state law passed as a result of bribery or extortion is invalid and that no enforcement of it shall issue; and that any legislator who offers legislation that is found to have been brought forward as a result of such bribery or extortion shall both lose his governmental position, all retirement benefits, and shall be imprisoned for as long as such law remains in effect.

Bribery and extortion from the federal government are specifically mentioned as qualifying for the penalties prescribed.

[Wuli]

I have no problem with an outfit set up like the NTSB making any such type of recommendations as mere recommendations, leaving choices of public awareness campaigns or legislation up to individual states.

The states’ answer to the NTSB for any such recommendation need ONLY be:

“Thanks for the advice”

[Tijeras_Slim]

[archy]

They’ll just use their big ‘national highway funding’ stick to beat any opposition into submission.

As they did in Montana, following which Montana promised to eliminate maintenance on that state's interstate highways and post a 35 MPH speed limit on them?

See following, regarding Montana and the recent Supreme Court Heller decision.

[3niner]

As long as I don't have to pay when they scramble their brains, then you are correct.

Fight the socialism, not the bikers.

[RobRoy]

>>Many of them had had their insurance maxed out, and were on the public dole.<<

And the root problem is not that they were not wearing helmets. The root problem is that they were on the public dole.

BTW, did he say none of them were wearing helmets?

[nkycincinnatikid]

Everybody in Saigon rides a motor bike. Lawfully they must wear a helmet but most don’t. They are usually strapped to the bikes, I asked a friend how come. She said “why wear them, they are made in China,no good”.

[Dr. Bogus Pachysandra]

“BTW, did he say none of them were wearing helmets?”

He said, “Most of them.” It was kinda sad, because they were ruined. They’d never be able to get out of managed care. And,,,, I really miss Indian Larry! Someone I really enjoyed! His “gizmoness” was wonderful.

[tlb]

Motorcycle helmets ? We don't need no steeeenkin' motorcycle helmets. What's the worst that could happen anyway.

[Salamander]

I tried that once but I'm one of those people who obsessively pop all the bubbles.

In about an hour, I was naked and unprotected.

Somebody needs to invent pop-proof bubble wrap for my own good.

[Riley]

I’d also recommend seat belts, side impact air bags, roll bars, crumple zones, 5 mph impact bumpers...

I want reactive armor blocks, like you see affixed all over a lot of modern tanks. I'm dead either way- but this way I'm taking you with me.

I'll bet that "I didn't see him" crap dries up real quick.

[Salamander]

Selective liberal logic at work.

[3boysdad]

I have a hard time taking anything seriously from the NTSB when any dipshit/illegal can obtain a driver's license. I would venture that at least 50% of the people out on the highways have no business whatsoever pioleting a 2000 pound machine. I can tell by the paranoid look in their eye(s?) as they frantically scan the first 5 ft in front of them with a 10 and 2 death grip on the wheel as I pass them in the right-hand lane.

Screw the laws! I personally have always (even as a teenagaer) used my helmet/seatbelt because I understand pyshics and like to ride/drive like a bat out of hell. And I've never met anyone who didn't who could keep up with me either! ;)

My favorite childhood memory of freedom is of me napping in the back window of the family truckster on vacation while Dad drove with an open can of beer... and NO seatbelt! Man... those were the days! I'm so lucky to still be alive and paying taxes into the abysss of safety and evironmentalism.

Freedom has left the building!