I was thinking about getting a motorcycle

[smstonypoint]

Lots of speculation there, I'd be interested in the stats. I tend to believe that folks without a brain bucket tend to spill them everywhere, and end up costing less. People with helmets could actually end up costing more because they die less, but are still exposed to serious spinal and internal injuries, concussive brain trauma, etc. But that's also just an opinion.

I'd never ride on the roads without a helmet (sometimes putt around the yard on my quad without one), but generally don't support helmet laws. As scoutcub mentioned, no lid is the norm in Ohio...by a huge margin.

Aside from the personal freedom issue, another argument against mandatory safety devices (e.g., helmet and seat belt laws) is that people feel safer when they use those devices and thus take more risks than they would otherwise.

There is an extensive literature on the economic impact of helmet laws. I'm not familiar with that literature, but here's the abstract of one such study.

This paper reviews economic evaluations of motorcycle helmet interventions in preventing injuries. A comprehensive literature review focusing on the
effectiveness of motorcycle helmet use, and on mandatory helmet laws and their enforcement was done. When helmet laws were lifted between 1976-80, 48 states within the USA experienced a cost of $342,047 per excess fatality of annual net savings. Helmet laws in the USA had a benefit-cost ratio of 1.33 to 5.07. Taiwan witnessed a 14% decline in motorcycle fatalities and a 22% reduction of head injury fatalities with the introduction of a helmet law. In Thailand, where 70-90% of all crashes involve motorcycle, after enforcement of a helmet law, helmet-use increased five-fold, the number of injured motorcyclists decreased by 33.5%, head injuries decreased by 41.4%, and deaths decreased by 20.8%. There is considerable evidence that mandatory helmet laws with enforcement alleviate the burden of traffic injuries greatly. For low and middle-income countries with high rates of motorcycle injuries, enforced, mandatory motorcycle helmet laws are potentially one of the most cost-effective interventions available. Asia Pac J Public Health 2007; 19(2): 16?2.

Exploring the Economics of Motorcycle Helmet Laws ? Implications for Low and Middle-Income Countries ? Asia Pac J Public Health

Again, I'm not familiar with the literature and there may be studies that do not support the adoption of mandatory helmet laws.

Steve

 

[oldnslo]

You are correct about Illinois in that there is no helmet law for any age. In Illinois all you are required to wear is a pair of glasses for eye protection and enough clothing to not be picked up for indecent exposure.

As a rider of 30 + years I support your right to choose.

Has any heard or read of any insurance companies offering discounts to riders that ATGATT (All The Gear, All The Time).

Roy

 

[warhammer]

I have a nephew that is an ER doc and sees a lot of accident victims.
He says that folks that come in that were not wearing helmets in motorcycle wrecks or seatbelts in car wrecks are likely to get MUCH more messed up and die much more frequently. Sounds obvious of course but some of the descriptions are really motivational for taking personal safety a bit more seriously to keep from becoming a statistic.

In California you are required to have a helmet no matter the age. Lots of discussion about this at the time it was being forced on us. The stories being told were that the ability to survive a motorcycle crash without a helmet versus with a helmet were large. There was always a large amount of body organs being supplied by those who chose not to wear a helmet and died in a motorcycle accident because of brain trauma. Since the helmet law, organ donations have dropped. There are benefits both ways. If it were me, I would opt for a helmet, I would still prefer to let the rider determine his/her desire to wear a helmet and consequently their odds of being an organ donor.

 

[Skyco]

On a more serious note, I am surprised by the number of folks who ride without helmets in SC, where the state law requires helmets only for those 17 or younger.

Actually it is 21 not 17.

I am an affirmed helmet wearer, always have been. A couple of years ago I slipped on some mud pulling out of a dirt parking lot near the Blue Ridge Parkway, low speed fall mostly just embarrassing. Jumped up checked the bike, no damage, and went on. I was literally astounded later to find a large scrape on the helmet where it hit the pavement, I didn't even know my head had hit. Betcha I'd really have known it if not for the helmet...scaling up the scrape in the plastic to what it would have been on skin/skull..:thumbsup:

 

[brin]

I rode a Harley full dress for 3 years Professionally as a police officer...If you want to ride without a helmet..ride your bike around the block without one and get the thrill out of your system....then always wear a helmet..I am 65 years old now, in great shape and would buy a bike in heartbeat but not for me on todays roads with todays drivers..It is not you or your ability it is you giving other drivers the choice as to wheter you live or die...Think about it ! So if you must go out on these streets on a motorcycle at least wear a helmet and protect the rest of your body from the sandpaper road that awaits you...Always remember...There are Old motorcycle riders and there are Bold motorcycle riders but there are no Old Bold motorcycle riders...

 

[The Haymaker]

I'm still surprised by those who don't believe in a helmet. I mean, I know they work, yet I still enjoy the breeze through my helmetless head just as any "I'll never crash" rider. BUT, on my offroad bikes, the helmet is always on, and on my streetbikes, It's 99% of the time. I KNOW they work, I'm living proof.
The Pig Pen

I'm also 1.5 million miles accident free in a big truck. Do I think I can prevent almost any accident? Yup, so does this cockiness prevent me from wearing a belt, just in case?

NO!!!

 

[Danno1]

.

So that's where your screen name comes from. Ouch!


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[The Haymaker]

.

So that's where your screen name comes from. Ouch!


.

For some reason, those on my forums though "Crash" was no longer suitable.:laughing: