Car and Seat belts vs. Motorcycles and Helmets?

Question

Why is it a law that all drivers and passengers in a car must WEAR a SEATBELT but MOTORCYCLISTS do not have to wear a HELMET? Wearing a helmet is there choice. Now in my view I believe motorcyclists are in more harms way because their bodies and their HEAD will not have any support for impact except the road. Don't get me wrong I truly support all drivers and passengers wearing a seatbelt but motorcyclists should be require to wear a HELMET. What do you think?

I live in the central part of the US, and motorcyclists don't have to wear helmets.

But the HELMET protects the BRAIN, the most important part of the BODY.

Answer 1

I think that if its the law that you have to wear a set belt in a car then you should have to wear a helmet on a motorcycle....in a car you have more to protect you compare to if you are on a motorcycle there is nothing around you...I donno about these laws any more the more they make them the more thye dont make sence

Answer 2

Good question! I agree, all motorcyclists SHOULD wear helmets, and it is more dangerous than a car, but, really, how many people do you see driving around without seatbelts? They don't care if it's illegal or not. If it was a law to drive a motorcycle with a helmet, some people might not do it anyhow. I guess it WOULD be more noticable to police, though, than seatbelts because you can see it more easily. It might have something to do with the fact that seatbelts come with the car, but you have to buy a helmet separately when you get a motorcycle. If they're stupid enough to ride without a helmet, then it's their own fault when they get injured!

Answer 3

I ride everyday and I wear a helmet about 30% of the time. Mainly because it's hot in Arizona and wearing a helmets puts me into border line heat stroke. Imagine wearing a full-face helmet in 120 heat- it isn't comfortable. It's like disabling the A/C and vent and leaving the windows up in your car....
Helmets are also expenssive and need to be replaced periodically. A cheap helmet can cost $100, but the best are around $500+. Maybe a small price but you don't have to pay $500 for your seatbelt.
And in a majority of motorcycle accidents, it isn't the fall that kills the rider- it's the bubblehead on the cell phone that ran the biker off the road in the first place who runs them over.
It should be the motorcyclist choice. It's like one other answerer said, it has the effect as saying, "Well, Jimmy's mom said I can't so you shouldn't be able to!"

Answer 4

I'm afraid I don't totally agree with you.
I am not required to wear either a seatbelt or a helmet where I live. I have and still use both, when I choose. Honestly, it's not often. Don't get me wrong,here. I'm in favor of their use. However I am strongly against others making choices FOR me. I am just as strongly against people making thier choice fit YOU. That is my argument against seatbelt and helmet laws. Insurance does not relate to my argument. I have spent thousands in premiums and barely collected hundreds in benefits.That's medical. As far as the brain being the most important part of the body, well, maybe. However, it's MY brain, not anyone else's.
You asked a question that required an opinion for an answer. This is mine.

Does anyone else realize how may laws we have that are "for thier own good", written and passed by others?

BTW - Everyone concerned with my well being knows my wishes. NO Life Support. I will not suffer to be hooked up to machinery no matter the reason.

Live Free Or Die

Answer 5

This is all about rights. The only person you harm by not wearing a seatbelt or helmet is yourself. Personally, I think helmet laws AND seatbelt laws are bogus and purely attempts on the part of the states to make money (ticketing you for not wearing a seatbelt) and tell you what you can/can't do.
FYI - some crackpot tried to get seatbelts implemented on motorcycles and thankfully they failed.

I know the whole thing about if you turn yourself into a vegetable that the government pays your bills. Know what? I'd rather pay taxes towards a motorcyclist that got hurt than pay for somebody on welfare to pop out more children and never get off their behind and get a job.

Answer 6

I used to be on the fence about the seatbelt laws. A few of my cars ago, the seatbelt was automatic. I had gotten used to having a seatbelt. I feel odd without one and will not drive even out of the driveway without one.

Do I think it should be mandatory? YES. It's proven that seatbelts save lives. Will it save all lives in an accident? Of course not, given the severity of the accident and factors surrounding the accident. A semi running over a passenger car will likely cause fatal injuries whether or not the passengers are wearing their seatbelts. That should not be reason to NOT wear seatbelts but if a standard is set, then everyone should follow the standard.

In the Peoples Republic of New Jersey, there is no official helmet law. This was told to me by a few cops that I ride with.

Title 39. Motor Vehicles and Traffic Regulations. Subtitle 1. motor Vehicle and Traffic Laws. Chapter 3. Motor Vehicles. Article 3. Equipment. Section 39:3-76.7. Protective Helmet of Proper Size To Be Worn By Operator and Passenger . . . :

"The director is authorized and empowered to adopt rules and regulations covering the types of helmets and the specifications therefor and to establish and maintain a list of approved helmets which meet the specifications as established hereunder. For the purposes of this section, motorcycle shall not include any three-wheeled motor vehicle equipped with a single cab with glazing enclosing the occupant, seats similar to those of a passenger vehicle or truck, seat belts and automotive steering.

b. The director shall not assess motor vehicle points for the failure of a motorcycle operator or rider to wear a protective helmet.

As of this writing, there is NO list.

Anyway, aside from the obvious loophole, I think it's stupid to operate a motorcycle without a DOT approved safety helmet. I think it should be mandatory in all states.

If people are not required to wear safety helmets while operating motorcycles, I think they should waive all their rights if they're involved in an accident. If it's proven that a helmet could've reduced the extent of their injury, the rider who CHOSE not to wear a helmet and their family should NOT be entitled to any compensation.

eg. If I'm helmetless and I end up hitting my melon on the road for any reason, I or my family cannot sue or receive any monies resulting from the events of the accident. If it is my choice to NOT wear a helmet, AND something happens where MY unprotected head gets injured AND I survive, I get nothing because I didn't wear the proper protective equipment.

Answer 7

Should everyone wear a helmet? YES!

Should everyone be forced to wear one? NO!

Guess what? I read an article recently about a guy who was thrown from his bike and hit his helmeted head on the curb. He died shortly thereafter, and the media had another small field day because the guy was wearing one of those plastic chromed lids that stated IT WAS NOT FOR PROTECTION AND NOT D.O.T. APPROVED!

So all you'd get with helmet laws are a bunch of guys wearing plastic hats when they ride, which defeats the purpose of a helmet law anyway!

People that don't wear helmets AND FULL GEAR are just smears waiting to happen. There hasn't been a valid argument against wearing helmets that is anything other than personal choice.

Trust me, those of us that ride with gear think that those without it are morons, but non-motorcyclists group all riders together just like insurance companies.

If you want proof of Darwinism, it's riding past you with a T-shirt and shorts on a motorcycle.

Answer 8

You have a valid point. Plenty of states do have helmet laws (http://www.motorcyclegiftshop.com/helmet_laws.html) I don't totally understand why there are seatbelt laws - the only people who they can potentially harm by not wearing a belt are themselves.
It might be because seatbelts are mandatory equipment in cars but helmets are accessories that have to be purchased seperate. Where do you draw the line then? Should riding jackets with padding/armor be required as well? What about over the ankle boots?
It also might have to do with just the number of cars on the road vs motorcycles. Because the number of cars outnumber motorcycles by so much they will tend to get more attention from legislature.

Answer 9

Helmet wearing, is determined by the state in which you live. Not every state, has done away with the helmet law!! Trust me, I live in Missouri, and here you WILL get pulled over. Unlike a seatbelt, drivers are exposed and do get caught. However, I do see your point, "what is good for the goose is good for the gander"! Yes, if folks must wear seat belts, in all 50 states, mind you, helmets should be worn as well! That's my final answer!

Answer 10

First of all most of the "affordable" helmets out there are lined with Styrofoam. Styrofoam bounces. This creates a problem in minor accidents, because the body may have survived but when your head bounces your neck breaks. With training people learn how to fall off of motor and roll away without too much harm done. In the even that a motorcycle meets an tractor trailer, well even a helmet won't help you then. that's when defensive driving takes over. BTW a proper helmet (no Styrofoam inside) costs about $1500.

Answer 11

Car drivers suffer the most head injuries. They should be required to wear a seat belt and a helmet. However, legislators make more points by targeting the motorcycling as a 'high risk activity' rather than the people in cages who make it so risky.

Don't get me wrong,
I truly support freedom of choice in all matters concerning adults.