This is not a thread to hate on folks who ride motorcycles; I'm genuinely curious.

Please explain your answers. I've heard things like freedom of choice and medical insurance rates brought up in discussions like this before, but I'd like to get a broader take on it.

I do NOT own a motorcycle; my only experience is an occasional ride on a friends cycle, and I owned a dirt bike.

Question:
If not required by law, do you where a helmet when riding on public roads?

Choices:
Yes
No
I don't own a motorcycle
I hate people on 2 wheels, so I'll pick this and NOT clog up the thread

Question:
Do you think it should be required by law to wear a helmet?

Choices:
Yes
No
I hate people on 2 wheels, so I'll pick this and NOT clog up the thread

 

I carry high enough medical coverage on my insurance to be legal to ride in Michigan without a helmet, but choose to wear one anyway, a full face helmet even, generally along with a jacket and usually pants both containing armor.

I do not believe it should be required, as I do not believe seat belts should be required, but there should be some provision in place should someone be injured who has insufficient insurance to recover any costs to the state for treatment should any be incurred directly caused by lack of helmet or seat belt.

I always wear a helmet, I just feel better doing so.

I've seen where a neck was snapped and the person died due to the extra weight of a helmet, so I think it should be a personal choice.

I will ALWAYS wear a helmet. A helmet has saved my life on two separate occasions so.....

Should it be law? I don't think so. I don't think seat belts should be a law. I think they are a really good idea, but I don't like the idea of a nanny state telling me I HAVE to wear one.

And please, let's not start all the "fine, we just won't respond when you have a wreck" or "people like you cost the rest of us money by having to care for your now vegetative self"

I never said I didn't wear a seatbelt (and make my kids wear them). I just said I did t think they should be a law. I guess it's the libertarian in me coming out....

1. Yes, because they do reduce the incidence of head injuries. And, I'd prefer to leave a good looking corpse.

2. No. Same reason I don't believe that seatbelt use should be mandated. The government has no place in telling me how to take care of myself. They can make suggestions, but ultimately the decision should be my own.

YakTrax reduce the number of falls on ice and hence the cost of medical treatment for fractures and head injuries. Should we pass a law requiring people to wear them?

quote:

Originally posted by the_sandman_454:
I carry high enough medical coverage on my insurance to be legal to ride in Michigan without a helmet, but choose to wear one anyway, a full face helmet even, generally along with a jacket and usually pants both containing armor.

I do not believe it should be required, as I do not believe seat belts should be required, but there should be some provision in place should someone be injured who has insufficient insurance to recover any costs to the state for treatment should any be incurred directly caused by lack of helmet or seat belt.

Bingo...

Ownership for ones actions...

Don't wear a helmet...great, go for it.

End up a vegetable...that's on you, not the tax payers.

quote:

Originally posted by the_sandman_454:
I carry high enough medical coverage on my insurance to be legal to ride in Michigan without a helmet,

Interesting. I never knew some states were set up like that.

On long distance rides, full face helmet. Around town and short rides, open face with full clear visor for better peripheral vision.
Helmets save lives. And in some crashes a helmet makes no difference.

Well, I am a motorcycle rider and I generally DO NOT wear a helmet on public roads. I do have a helmet and I do have it on the bike, but probably only wear it 25%-33% of the time...though I always make my passenger wear one if they are riding with me.

I never understood the helmetless thing until I rode a dual sport down my street without a helmet. My mullet flapping in the breeze...it was incredible. For a short blast down my driveway/ street I won't always wear a helmet but otherwise I do. It's just too damn easy to get hurt without a helmet.

Well sure, if required by law, I don't need a ticket. If no law, just leathers, earplugs & goggles for me. If I am in an accident, inject me. I don't want to be an expense or burden.

My core belief is, everyone must ride a motorcycle for one year before getting a license to drive a 4 wheeler. I think being on 2 wheels may bring a sense awareness to serious drivers.

I always wear a helmet and leather jacket. Boots over the ankles too. Anytime you take your bike out on the road you're making a calculated risk whether you'll make it home or not. I try to minimize my risk. I believe though, we have a right to choose.

I'm with what appears to be the main stream here: I ALWAYS wear a helmet, but I don't think it should be a law if you're over 21. Nanny State and all that.

I also wear ear plugs, an armored jacket, heavy boots and gloves, and I'm leaning strongly towards getting a good pair of armored riding pants. Really, the only thing holding me back is that good ones are insanely expensive.

I won't go off on a rant here, but my opinion of all the apocryphal anecdotes about seat belts and helmets CAUSING injuries is about on a par with my opinion of the loud pipes debate.

I always wear heavy jeans, boots and sleeves. Most of the time I wear a half style helmet. But not always.

Full-face in cooler weather. Half-helmet in warmer months. Don't believe it should be mandated though.

All the gear all the time. Can get quite uncomfortable in the summers here in the Southwest but that's my choice.

I don't have a motorcycle w/ a high enough windscreen so a full face helmet is more comfortable.
But like Sandman, I carry enough coverage (MI)to go w/o one.
If my helmet is stolen or I pick up a passenger in need, I can go w/o for a bit.

When I rode, I wore one 99% of the time. Couldn't stand the wind getting in my ears & eyes.

quote:

Originally posted by k5blazer:
All the gear all the time. Can get quite uncomfortable in the summers here in the Southwest but that's my choice.

I'm of the same persuasion. I taught my son to ride and always taught him that if it's too hot to wear your gear it's too hot to ride.

I did my doctoral thesis on this very topic but focusing on PA and surrounding areas. I looked at motorcycle accident death rates 5 years before and after PA did away with helmet laws. In the first 3 years while he total number of accidents stayed relatively constant, motorcycle related accident death rates went up over 500%. Demographically the people dying in the largest numbers were men ages 40-60 with bikes that had displacements greater than 1000cc. Younger adults on sport bikes died at a much slower rate. Also something like 90% of unhelmeted deaths had alcohol or drugs involvement when compared to 35% in the helemeted group. People who routinely didn't wear helmets were much more likely to not have insurance.

I also wear a helmet when I ride...all the time every time