Motorcycles w/ no helmets

[normiss 893]

Good idea.
I will...thanks.

[Zee 0]

I've ridden in Central Texas during bug season and it sucks even with a full face helmet. Not quite sure what you can do short of getting a visor for your half cover type lid...

As for helmet laws....not my thing. I'm all for freedom of choice. If you feel like wearing a helmet fine, if not, who gives a shit, really?

Personally, I wear mine every time out but, I've crashed at speed on the track and walked away with nothing more than a jacked up $500 lid, some scraped up leathers, and a sore shoulder. Had it been my bare head instead of my helmet that hit the pavement, I'd either be dead or eating my remaining meals through a straw. And that was on the track where there are no panel trucks, deer, or Oldmobuicks....

I'm not so worried about dying in a m/c crash myself. There are much worse fates than death imho.

Action©Sports

[Andy9o8 2]

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As for helmet laws....not my thing. I'm all for freedom of choice. If you feel like wearing a helmet fine, if not, who gives a shit, really?

I'd agree with you if it didn't affect total strangers in society in a very immediate and non-abstract way, but it does: not wearing helmets increases everyone's auto liability insurance rates. That's because an un-helmeted multi-vehicle motorcycle crash is more likely to cause death or serious injury to the rider than a helmeted one; which means greater potential for high-figure liability for the other driver; which means higher liability insurance rates for everyone to offset the higher shared risk. (If it were not for this factor, then I'd agree it would be no different than any other higher-risk activity a person might choose to engage in.)

[Zee 0]

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As for helmet laws....not my thing. I'm all for freedom of choice. If you feel like wearing a helmet fine, if not, who gives a shit, really?

I'd agree with you if it didn't affect total strangers in society in a very immediate and non-abstract way, but it does: not wearing helmets increases everyone's auto liability insurance rates. That's because an un-helmeted multi-vehicle motorcycle crash is more likely to cause death or serious injury to the rider than a helmeted one; which means greater potential for high-figure liability for the other driver; which means higher liability insurance rates for everyone to offset the higher shared risk. (If it were not for this factor, then I'd agree it would be no different than any other higher-risk activity a person might choose to engage in.)

That's really a pretty lame argument considering that there are roughly 251,000,000 registered vehicles in this country and only 7,000,000 of them are motorcycles. In addition to that, roughly half of the 3,000 or so annual m/c related fatalities are single vehicle accidents involving collisions with fixed objects. And roughly half of those who die were wearing a helmet at the time. According to the NHTSB, wearing a helmet increases your chances of survival by about 30%......

In most states, medical/death & dismemberment coverage aren't even available on m/c insurance policies which mean we have to pay for additional insurance if we want to be protected.

The total increase in your automobile liability insurance due to the risk of you accidentally killing a motorcyclist who's not wearing a helmet with your car would have to be extremely small.

Action©Sports

[normiss 893]

Fully agree with that!

not to mention...my costs should even out balanced against the cigarette smokers and alcoholics.
Maybe we should make those CHOICES illegal too?
Given their cost to society and all.
Again, no choice, no freedoms, safety and money first!

[Andy9o8 2]

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my costs should even out balanced against the cigarette smokers and alcoholics.
Maybe we should make those CHOICES illegal too?
Given their cost to society and all.
Again, no choice, no freedoms, safety and money first!

I made it clear I was not making a general "cost to society" argument; I was talking about one specific thing: other people's auto liability premiums.

[normiss 893]

Personally, I carry WAY more insurance than I need, much less required.
I'm covered.

[DSE 5]

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As for helmet laws....not my thing. I'm all for freedom of choice. If you feel like wearing a helmet fine, if not, who gives a shit, really?

I'd agree with you if it didn't affect total strangers in society in a very immediate and non-abstract way, but it does: not wearing helmets increases everyone's auto liability insurance rates. That's because an un-helmeted multi-vehicle motorcycle crash is more likely to cause death or serious injury to the rider than a helmeted one; which means greater potential for high-figure liability for the other driver; which means higher liability insurance rates for everyone to offset the higher shared risk. (If it were not for this factor, then I'd agree it would be no different than any other higher-risk activity a person might choose to engage in.)

The bastards that eat their hamburgers and talk/text on their cell phones while driving are by far, FAR more responsible for higher insurance rates...
Me? I *always* keep one hand on the handlebars while talking on my cell or eating a hamburger.
Of course, when I'm practicing my track...neither hand is on the bars, but I'm almost always on a straight road.

[Andy9o8 2]

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The bastards that eat their hamburgers and talk/text on their cell phones while driving are by far, FAR more responsible for higher insurance rates...

In one fell swoop you demean the integrity of the beef industry and the telecommunications industry. Clearly you have issues with cowboys and engineers. How dishonorable.

[normiss 893]

I completely understand his cowboy issues...but engineers????

[DSE 5]

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I completely understand his cowboy issues...but engineers????

Uhh....I have never seen a cowboy with any kind of livestock. But I heard of an engineer in the Northwest who recently had a bad run-in with a horse.

No cowboys were offended in the writing of this post.
And I still prefer to ride without a helmet.

Coincidentally, it's funny that 10 years ago, any cowboy that wore a helmet was considered a pussy. Today, it's required in high school, and most cowboys use bucking rolls, some use helmets.
So...is it about being tough? Being safe? Both?

[hollypocket 0]

Same question to people who don't wear goggles!

That baffles me, I hate wind in my eyes--especially in the winter--my eye balls would freeze out of my skull!!!

Props, peeps!

\\>

[skyjumpenfool 2]

Wearing a helmet is a "personal choice" that you should have the right to make! Personally, I wear one all the time. I have not found a reason not to. It's noisy, windy, buggy, etc. All the negatives go away if you buy a good one.

When people argue this with me, I just show them a couple of old "ground up" helmets that have saved my ass in the past. enjoy...

Birdshit & Fools Productions

"Son, only two things fall from the sky."

[Bolas 5]

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I'd agree with you if it didn't affect total strangers in society in a very immediate and non-abstract way, but it does: not wearing helmets increases everyone's auto liability insurance rates. That's because an un-helmeted multi-vehicle motorcycle crash is more likely to cause death or serious injury to the rider than a helmeted one;

I heard at one point that in states where helmets were required that insurance was higher because people were more likely to be seriously and/or permanently injured and survive than die.

Which from strictly a $$$ and numbers standpoint will most likely end up costing insurance companies more in the long run.

Stupidity if left untreated is self-correcting
If ya can't be good, look good, if that fails, make 'em laugh.