Helmet laws in the news again

First off, I like to ride fast at times, so I wear a helmet by choice.

The recent headlines of Ben Roethlisberger not wearing his helmet has thrown helmet laws into question again.

Florida (where I live, and where helmet use has dropped to less than 30%, as most no longer wear a helmet) is used an an example of a problem with helmet laws being repealed. Stats show since the helmet law was repealed, injury and deaths increased. This is used by the newsmedia to get attention. In reality, yes, injury and deaths have increased, but at a slower pace than they would have if helmet laws remained.

The stats are:

Florida motorcycle registrations shot upward 87 percent since the helmet repeal took effect. Annual registrations increased from 238,229 to 445,896 from 2000-04.

Total Florida motorcycle fatalities have increased statewide since the helmet law's repeal. The yearly death toll leaped from 259 in 2000 to 432 in 2004 -- a 67 percent jump.

Of the licensed riders who were killed between 1998 and 2003, not one had participated in the state-administered Florida Rider Training Program.

So is the problem really related to helmet laws?

I think the following has a huge affect:
1. Invincibility.
When wearing a helmet, you may have a safer feeling, and you may push the limits of a bike more often. Speed kills. When not wearing a helmet, you are more cautious, and chances are you would not take the same chances of pushing the bike to higher speeds.
2. Senses.
With a helmet on, you are slightly more limited in your hearing and vision, which may result in a slightly slower time to react to problems.
3. Faster bikes (and movies to glamorize them) with no prerequisite of any kind for owning one.
My stepson was killed 3 years ago riding his Hayabusa before he reached 19 years old.
It was his first bike of any sort, and he had it less than 2 months.
He was wearing a helmet.
A cop spotted him at well over 130MPH.

Not trying to bring up a debate about helmet laws, but also don't want an accident from a QB to change the way life works with negative publicity, much like the Janet Jackson accident changed the way TV is now broadcast.

What do you think?

 

To put numbers into simply terms:

When helmet law was in affect you had a 1 in 920 chance to be killed on your bike.

Since helmet laws have been repealed, you have a 1 in 1032 chance of being killed on your bike, so it is now safer.

 

I'm all for wearing a helmet as a result of inteligent choice but I must disagree with your second post Rob. The following links are most useful since they do rely upon empirical evidence to support their views. http://healthresearch.georgetown.edu/Er ... etlaws.htm and http://www.iihs.org/laws/state_laws/helmet_use.html. They state that the rates of deaths since the repeal have occured have definitively increased, period. I would suggest some additional reading by googling Helmet safety laws and checking out a few of the links. One additional link that I think should also be read is the review that was provided by the Motorcyclist Magzine (http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/gearb ... et_review/). It was written from our perspective (the guys who ride) and they pulled out the fluff. While is is not exactly a ringing endorsement of Snell ratings, they do support proper protective equipment. Please post your referrences, I would be most interested in them. Thanks.

 

As a former racer I prefer to wear a helmet at all times on my bike, I have gone down at 150+ and if not for my lid having a half dollar size hole in it, it would have been in my head. So if you like your head wear a helmet.

 

Having been down once - and hopefully never again - I will say to anyone who will listen -- whether or not you like wearing a helmet, if I go down, I want SOMETHING between my head and the pavement. Simple as that.

 

A few interesting facts from the land downunder.

Helmets are compulsory. Has been for as long as I remember. They no longer issue exemptions for those with "Medical" reasons for not wearing a helmet. Bikies (OMG's) have to apply for special permission to ride in a funeral procession without helmets.

About five years ago they made it compulsory to wear a helmet on a PUSH BIKE. This has reduced the number of fatalities related to pushbike accidents. Now these are not usually speed related accidents.

Sorry, Rob, nothing personal, but I refuse to beleive the stats you have quoted. Statistics are usually interpreted and reported in the biased view of one party. Any set of statistics can usually have positive areas for two opposing arguements and each side will only report what suits them.

Old cliche. It's not the fall that kills you, it's the sudden stop at the end.

People have been killed falling off a non moving bike because thier head hits the ground first.

A personal experience with a rock flicking up off a truck tyre and taking a large chunk from the top of my helmet (better than my head) leaves me with the personal opinion that helmets should be required by LAW.

/end rant. :wink:

 

I wanna move to florida , laws laws , a law soon to not walk out the front door as "you might be hit by a bus" , i guess my complaint is the numbercrunchers that work all this out and then law it , instead of realizing alot of people are plain stupid /life/events/aliens and humans and so our choice disappears.....under the guise of helpful and a dollar....mi 10c worth too.

Over the years i personally know of 3 ded people that were ded because of the helmet..

 

Sorry for not providing the links to back post up as I usually would do. Was in a hurry, and the info was found by googling:

Florida Motorcycle registration Helmet

http://www.floridatoday.com/apps/pbcs.d ... /606180322

Did the math for you using 2000 numbers of 238,229 registered bikes with 259 deaths, equals 1 in 920. Then did 2004 numbers of 445,896 registered bikes with 432 deaths, equals 1 in 1032.

Another point I failed to make was this blame game the media is using because of the Ben Roethlisberger accident. CNN, Fox, and all other news media act like because he was not wearing a helmet, he crashed. Of course that is a farce. Helmet had zero to do with it, yet they say helmet more than anything else. Even if he was wearing a helmet, chances are he still would have had a broken jaw and nose, unless he wore a full face. So what's next? All riders required to wear a full face helmet? Don't think it won't happen. Then what? Full leathers, even in 95 degree Florida heat? Side crash bars to protect rider at all times? Four wheels? They take away rights to protect us from ourselves, and given an opportunity to pounce on a hot topic, you usually see law changes soon afterwards. 3-wheel ATVs are too dangerous to sell anymore, yet Honda admits their 4 wheeler is no safer (http://library.findlaw.com/1992/Nov/1/130577.html). Two cycle personal watercraft are being banned in many locations. No wake jumping laws because of an accident between a jetski and high profile signer..

That's what I was trying to get across, not the "is a helmet safer debate". Of course a helmet is safer under nearly every instance. Soon you might even be wearing on in your car :wink:

 

HooNz - I'd like more clarification on this statement.
Having been a motorcyclist wearing a helmet for over 20 years, and working in Healthcare (hospital) - I have NEVER seen or heard of a single case of a motorcyclist accident where the rider's helmet caused or was responsible for a death.

Theoretically it's possible I suppose.... I'd like to hear about the circumstances you're referring to though.

 

One thing people fail to realize though is all the work and money that goes into trying to save people's lives who could have otherwise walked away from an accident. My wife loves the Discovery Health channel, and they have several shows highlighting the ER's. Several times I have seen accidents that could have otherwise been avoided that resulted in doctors, nurses, and EMS's working their butts off, and taking them away from other serious medical issues, all because Joe Schmoe didn't want to wear a helmet.

 

From the link Robert posted above:

12. Do people support mandatory helmet use? According to a 2000 motor vehicle occupant survey conducted by NHTSA, 81 percent reported that they favored mandatory helmet use laws for motorcyclists. Support is more prevalent among females (88 percent) than males (72 percent) and among non-motorcyclists (83 percent) than those who drove motorcycles (51 percent). Support was higher in states requiring all riders to wear helmets (84 percent) compared with states with lesser requirements (75 percent) or no requirements (79 percent).27

Couple things.

When was this survey polled in the area's where helmet laws were currently in affect? I ask because if you asked me the question while the law was in affect, I too would have said the same thing most of you are saying, yes it should be a law. But now ask that question in an area where there is no helmet law for a few years, and you would be surprised at the change of opinions. Many (not all) of you that are for the law would think otherwise after experiencing it first hand. I changed, and so did most people I know in there 30's through 50's.

The other important thing to note about that poll is who is for the law.
83 percent of non-motorcyclists. Why should they have any say in the first place about taking rights away from another class of people....???

 

Good point, and very true.
But, if you bring that up, you also must bring up the fact that many people who would have died from their injuries because they failed to wear a helmet, now are living paralyzed or crippled for the rest of there lives. Bike accidents are brutal. Yes, the head can be protected, but what about the rest? Were lap seatbelts enough for cars? Will the laws stop at helmets? My brother told me when I bought my first bike never to buy collision insurance because if the bike was damaged bad enough, you wouldn't be around to ride it again anyway.

 

Agree 100% there.

As I'm sure you know, any one of us could walk outside today, something fall on our head, slip on something, etc., and we could also end up the same way. Yes, bike accidents are brutal, that's why I believe in protecting yourself to the fullest extent. I didn't comment on woot's post in another thread about riding gear, but I agree with his philosophy on wearing protective gear. Here's that thread: http://www.xjbikes.com/Forums/viewtopic/t=1160.html

I don't quite agree with that either, I have quite a few friends who have totalled bikes and are still riding. One that spent 2 days in the ICU and about a week in the hospital, and was riding again within 2 weeks. And on the same bike that sent him to the hospital to begin with! I don't carry collision insurance on my bikes because I'd end up paying more in insurance than the bike is worth! :lol: But that's getting pretty off-topic.

Anyway, all in all, I tend to agree that it should be a choice, same with wearing seat belts. I choose to wear my seat-belt or helmet, some don't. The only thing I have a problem with is the people who don't take the time to consider their decision, and weigh their options, and only do it because it's the "cool" thing to do.

 

I'm really torn on this one. Generally, I'm a very hands off kind of guy. I don't want the governement telling me what I can and can not do beyond the obvious.

At the same time, I just don't understand the argument for not wearing a helmet. Every time I run into someone who doesn't wear one I get the same speech. They impare vision, they impare hearing, they kill more people than they save. I don't agree with that, but even if there's some truth to it, I don't buy it. If you want to ride without a helmet, then just say you like to ride without a helmet. Don't patronize me with weak arguments.

Then there's the 'there's danger everywhere' arguement. Yes, you could walk out your door and get hit by a bus or get struck by lightning or whatever but I find it hard to justify something like riding sans helmet with it. Even the friends I have that regularly ride without a helmet generally will admit that it's dangerous.

When I was 17 I was in a bicycle accident from which I still bear scars on my face. Thank god, I was wearing a helmet. The doctor told me flat out that it saved my life. And that was on a bicycle. Needless to say, I won't ride 10' without a helmet. In fact, I'm always covered with gear. When it's 100 degrees, I still wear gloves and a jacket with armor. Saftey is more important to me than comfort.

I guess I would never vote to repeal a no helmet law, but I don't think I'd vote to enact one either. We all have our own personal accepted level of risk, but some things just seem foolish.

Greg

 

All very good questions and responses folks. I'm very pleased to see that this has stirred up some thought and discussion. I'm not very happy about mandated helmets but I do see the numbers and when most of the sources sing the same tune it lends credence to the facts. I've 17 years riding and I swear by helmets given the education and experiences I have had (some were rather gruesome). I've heard folks tout that they wouldn't be caught dead wearing them because their "third cousin twice removed" (Tongue In Cheek) died because of his helmet. I offer this, if your dead because of your helmet, odds are very good you would have expired regardless of what you were wearing anyway. Common sense tells you that anything between your head and the "immovable object" is just plain smart. Heck, the thrown up rubber mentioned by Goon is just one of many reasons to cover your lid. I'm totally with you all on the Media cramming the latest "view" (funny, I don't suppose any of the reporters on the scene were riders were they? Tell me it isn't so, please) down John Q. Public's throat, bugger that, facts should be substantiated. Too many non-riders have the power of the vote to dictate what we can and can't do, so don't complain about the laws unless your voting every chance you get. I completely agree with the waste of medical professionals time trying to put Humpty "I aint a'wearin no helmet" Dumpty's (pun intended) nut back together after his fall. If he doesn't care to protect himself, I don't expect anyone else to care about his head either. To wear safety equipment is tantamount to announcing that you care about your hide to the casual observer. Of course I rode my bicycle as a kid without any protection whatsoever for years, got the scars to prove it. I wear a helmet and gloves now because I didn't like the sensation of my skin being scrapped from my hide (and I would have worn them as a kid if they had been available to me). I extrapolated that the same process would naturally be repeated should I try riding without protection on a motorcycle (there I go thinking again, gotta stop doing that) only more so given the speeds involved. I hope that those of you who are still adamant about not wearing your helmet understand what the odds of your actions are and are comfortable with that. I couldn't be. Best of luck to you all but you know, as I do, that there is some knuckle head driver out there with your name on his bumper, it is only a matter of time. Hope your covered.

 

A lot of words in here and im not a wordy person... I went down at under 10mph last week on a slick (= not rough) black tar (=smooth) road... To my surprise my jeans came out totally ripped on the downside leg and the helmet skared up from my slide. This is from under 10mph... there is no way in the world you would get me on the bike without a helmet now. And i was an avid helmet supporter before this anyway.

As for the bull shit story. They impair this and that... Yea. Ever driven in a car? Say oh maybe a new f150, or a new VW. Those cars are soundproof. you cannot hear road noise.

Impair vision...? Ever driven a H2 or a double extendacab F350? Yea... great vision...

But I guess a piece of inch thick foam blocks all the sound and I guess a 180* visor blocks to much vision... since the average person only sees around 170*

 

Exactly. The vision impairment issue is BS. Put a full face helmet on, and your peripheral vision CAN NOT pick up the corners of the visor. Heck, I can't see the corners even if I turn my eyes that way. And, if vision impairment is your only argument, they make many high-quality 3/4 helmets that will still protect the most vulnerable parts of your head, and you can get a clear face shield if you want your face protected.

 

If you want to ride without a lid, you should also give up your right to sue for any damage to your noggin' ... even if the accident is not your fault. You have to assume, like in Ben's case, that if you had a full-face helmet on you *may* not have any injuries at all. So, you can only claim injuries to your body from the head down.

Some of you no-helmet guys want it both ways ... that's dumb. Have you ever been hit in the head by a bird? I have, and without a full helmet, I would have wrecked. So how does wearing a helmet in this case make me invincible? How about riding in a driving rain without a helmet? Is that safe?

Don't get me started on the guys wearing cut-offs and flipflops to ride!

 

In my idiot days, I ran shorts and sneakers. Got behind a buddies Suzuki Samuri and he went through a patch of broken glass at freeway speed. I was too close and that shower of glass peppered me. Stings it does, I was bleeding like a stuck pig. Learned my lesson cheap if you ask me. Aren't current helmets required not to obstruct peripheral vision? (I'm not referring to the race helmets, rather the street variety)

 

Wear a helmet!? But then I won't be able to use my cell phone!

I'm kidding, but as a novice rider, and one who see's car drivers chatting on their cell phones or listening to their radios or doing anything else that takes their attention away from ME! makes it imperative that I look out for myself by wearing a helmet.

Whenever I drive north to New Hampshire or Maine, and I see all the bikers stopping across the state line to shed their helmets, I always wondered, "Do they think their heads are going to bounce off the pavement more lightly up here?I know the air is cleaner and the gas is cheaper, but are the streets actually softer?They bought the helmets, so why not use em?" Still can't figure it out.