Wear the stupid helmet !!!!

[orangeandgreen]

A couple summers ago I was going down the road on my hog minding my own business when a mini van turned in front of me. A short time later I was on the table in the ER getting my leg stitched up where the mini van blinker lens got impaled. The Dr started giving me a speech about wearing my helmet. I just grinned and asked him how that could have made a difference with my leg. Got the bike in '93 and haven't seen my helmet since Ky passed the helmet law.

 

[LouNY]

Dam - aren't you ever so right LouNY. I think a stinging whatever can hit "home" at least 3 or 4 times before you can rip that helmet off. OR the other situation. How can it be possible that a stinging bug can make it up the arm inside your motorcycle jacket. I've pounded on my arm to the point of making bruises and the bugger just keeps on stinging.

Or get in around your collar and down your back to start biting or stinging, time you get stopped and are flailing around trying to smack yourselve in the middle of your back, trying to get a kickstand down and get off while smacking yourself, and we still ride, what the heck :drink:

 

[deserteagle71]

Been riding on 2 wheels since the 60s. ALWAYS wear a helmet when I'm on two wheels.

I also ride a quad. But now the safety nazis in Nevada are trying to mandate that anyone riding a dirt road/trail on an ATV/UTV must also have a helmet on, and I draw the line at that. I would wear a helmet while on the quad if I were doing crazy stuff like jumping dunes, etc. But there's days I may have 20 miles on the odometer after a full day's ride - just poking along enjoying the scenery, stopping for photos. I was an EMT on an ambulance crew for many years and so I know that even driving a car/truck, wearing a helmet would be beneficial in case of a wreck. Where does this stuff stop? My thoughts are that if helmets are mandated for ATV/UTV use then make it mandatory for all drivers in all vehicles!

 

[2LaneCruzer]

My brother retired from the fire department in Albuquerque, and rode cycles for many years without any serious accidents. He had some gruesome stories to tell regarding motorcycle accidents though, since he was on the emergency response team. You are at a serious disadvantage in a cycle accident; no matter how much safety equipment you have. If you hit the blacktop face first, a helmet doesn't help much. I had several acquaintances who lost their lives and several friends who were very seriously injured, through no fault of their own. I learned a long time ago that I was not in complete control riding either a cycle or a horse.

 

[Oldoak]

Helmets and seat belts, either wear them/use them or don't. Two issues always sure to provoke engagements. :confused3:

Must be a slow day today.............

 

[kcflhrc]

I think we all know the benefits of helmets. We have no helmet law here in Kansas but I wear one 95% of the time. Why, because my wife tells me to. But don't you think it should be a choice? I certainly do. You could have the same argument about other things also like, wearing the seat belt on your tractor, which I never do, or riding a horse without a helmet. Point is, it should be your choice, not someone else's. That's what all the fuss is about, no one like's being told what to do.

 

[2LaneCruzer]

Helmets and seat belts, either wear them/use them or don't. Two issues always sure to provoke engagements. :confused3:

Must be a slow day today.............

I think the OP had the issue fresh on his mind after listening to the lecture and wanted to share; as long as there are motorcycle riders the topic will always be timely to some of us.

 

[Howling]

I am a firm believer of helmets for bikes of all types. Engine or human powered.

I am here now because a helmet worked 35 years ago. Teenage girl turned left in to a parking lot. She told the cop "I didn't see him until he broke my windshield". Helmet cracked, not my head. Bicycle was totaled.

The personal choice discussion should include not only the rider but the other people around them. The OP included comments about mothers with sons in vegetative states for years. My wife was upset at the accident, but she was not an early widow.

 

[kcflhrc]

I would argue a personal choice is exactly that, not a group decision. Unless you are married.

 

[AWSubie]

Personal Choice is key. The wait list for healthy organ transplants is long. We need donors.