Motorcycle hooligans ping.............
That SOUNDS like irony but it really doesn’t. The issue is personal freedom, not whether helmets save lives.
Obounceula!
“Contos hit his brakes, began fishtailing and lost control of his 1983 Harley Davidson. He shot over the handlebars, hit his head on the pavement and was taken to Upstate University Hospital in Syracuse, New York, where he was pronounced dead.”
Obviously he was going much faster than 14 miles per hour, which is the maximum speed helmets are rated for.
I’m not a bike rider or a mathematician although I’m pretty sure a helmet does not allow a persons body to defy the laws of physics. Besides he went over the handlebars...so what’s next? Seatbelts for bikes?
I always hear people say ... It isn’t a matter of *if* you have a motorcycle accident, it’s a matter of *when.*
I just find that hard to believe. With all the bikes that are on the road, *everyone* is going to have an accident? Everyone that drives hasn’t had a car accident. We always hear about the accident where the helmet saved the life, but there are also accidents where it didn’t. And accidents where the helmetless rider lived.
I’m sure helmet use is a good idea, but not mandated by the government.
The story about this poor unfortunate non-helmet wearing protester has been in here for the last three days. Could we give it a rest?
Yes, but he only hurt himself, no one else. It isn’t up to the government to tell people they must protect themselves via seat belts, air bags or helmets. He died for something he believed in and hurt only himself. Not wearing that helmet impacted no one else.
I appreciate the personal freedom argument against helmet laws and it is probably correct.
That said, there are some things that should require no laws. Anyone stupid enough to ride a motorcycle without a helmet deserves whatever consequences he suffers. I would also add that not one dime of taxpayer or charity money should go to assist such irresponsible fools.
I like Jerry Seinfeld’s take on helmet laws. “...the idea behind the helmet law being to preserve a brain whose judgment is so poor, it does not even try to avoid the cracking of the head it is in.”
If you want to protest helmet laws, I say get a sticker saying “I don’t need Big Government to tell me to wear this!” and put it on your helmet.
I think the best argument in favor of helmet laws might be that in the nanny state enviroment that is becoming more pervasive, many people assume anything legal is safe, and therefore laws are needed to to educate people.
I wonder if a “helmet law” with absolutely no penalties for disobeying it might make sense. It would put people on notice, without really compelling them to wear helmets, and also might help others escape liability for injuries suffered by helmetless fools.
Guess that’s called making the anti-point. He showed the mean ol’ helmentniks. ‘How dare you try to help and protect me! Ya’ think I’m STUPID, or somethin’? Take THAT!’
So he dies free.
I always wear seatbelts because it is the smart thing to do, once came out of an accident without a scratch thanks to my seatbelt. But the laws mandating them make me want to not wear seatbelts just on principle.
I agree with the personal freedom to decide aspect, but I prefer to wear my brains on the inside. For me it is helmet on, always.
If you are the government telling you to wear a helmet, it's none of your damn business.
Now, let me clarify a bit. The 'foolish' part is because of the disregard some drivers have for motorcyclists in general. Any city driving is dangerous. On open road, I'd rather feel the wind and see the sky, than have to sweat inside a brain-bucket on an all-day ride.
Already posted at least three times in the past 3 days...
Come on people...search is your friend.
=8-)
Ironic bump!
Another candidate for the Darwin Award.
I do not believe that it is a State’s place to mandate Motorcycle helmets. I do, however, believe that only an idiot would ride without one. Preservation of idiots is just not something any State should do.