Wear the stupid helmet !!!!

[RSKY]

We attended a meeting yesterday about preparing for care of an older person with Dementia or Alzheimer's. The lawyer was a specialist in elder law in Kentucky. She did an excellent job of presenting the material until she got to the part about Medical Surrogates. Her voice broke and she got a little emotional telling how she represents several young men who were in motorcycle accidents without helmets. It was in the latter part of her talk and the change in tone of her voice woke everybody up. She has four clients who, "show some brain stem activity" but are otherwise in a vegetative state. None of their mothers can bring themselves to "pull the plug" on their children. The one she has represented the longest has been on life support for more than six years. All were injured in helmetless motorcycle accidents.

There is a reason why nurses call motorcycle riders without helmets, "organ donors".

Her take on the situation was that all helmetless riders should be required to have a Living Will, a DNR document, and have the organ donor box checked on their license.

I quit riding years ago after a close call caused by a rather large dog. Don't flame me on this, I am just posting what somebody with MUCH experience in the issue had to say.

RSKY

 

[AWSubie]

 

[Gary Fowler]

I have to admit that in my younger years, I sometimes rode without a helmet. Now I never ride without one. I cant claim to be the ATGATT (all the gear, all the time) rider especially in the summer, full leathers are just too hot. Helmets I can tolerate, but not chaps and leather jacket in 95-100F weather.

 

[oosik]

Little choice here in WA state. It's the law. Ride w/out a helmet - you are a FLAMING ICON for LEO.

Besides - my full face helmet has deflected many bugs in its years of use. I HATE a juicy one straight in the mouth - but full contact with my eye - they can hear my screams over on the wet side.

 

[LouNY]

I don't like helmets, but I wear one almost always and always on the road.
I use the flipup modular style, full face but easier to get air if you are stopped for a few minutes.
My face screen sure gets a lot of bugs splattered on it, of course I also had a bee
get inside the helmet one day, amazing how long it takes to get stopped and the helmet off
and a stinging insect squashed.

 

[Motorboatin]

No helmet law here in Illinois

I've been riding motorcycles since I was 11 and know the benefits of helmets first hand but I must admit that I haven't always worn one while on a street bike. You will never convince young people to wear helmets if they don't want to

 

[Jstpssng]

The anti helmet crowd can cite reasons not to wear one... I know that my full face helmet certainly reduces periphial vision. OTOH a relative who is a helicopter paramedic calls bikes "donorcycles", stating that bikers are his best customers. Second in line is Jeep occupants, which is what happens when you take an off road vehicle and try to drive it like a sports car.

 

[oosik]

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.

 

[bunyip]

I got hit by a stone on the tip of my nose at about 100kph, didn't think something the size of a pea could hurt so much.
Wore a visor after that.
Temporary citizens is a term used here for bike riders and helmets are required by law, and must conform to approved specs.

 

[ArlyA]

:thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup: