2006-10-27 09:03:35 · 17 answers · asked by COblonde 3 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Motorcycles
That and I'm sure the insurance lobby in Washington DC wants it as well. In the name of safety, of course. Nothing to that it will save them millions of dollars a year!
2006-10-27 09:07:23 · answer #1 · answered by jim 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I certainly hope not. If helmet laws were to become mandatory nationwide, it would be because of the insurance lobbyists putty pressure on our elected officials and not because of any safety arguments. I live in a state that does not have a mandatory helmet law. I estimate that about 80% of the riders I see do not wear helmets. When the temperature gets over 90 it increases to about 95%. It is clear to me that the majority of bikers are opposed to helmets. I am one of them. I choose not to wear one, but it is each individuals choice. It is not for me or anyone to tell someone else what they can or can't wear. Why not have a national mandatory helmet law for automobile drivers? Those in favor of helmet laws do not buy into the fact that riding without a helmet improves a rider's vision and sight, as opposed to riding with a helmet. Therefore, they claim a helmet does not impair vision or hearing. So why not make auto drivers wear a helmet? Imagine a senior citizen driving with a helmet. Based on helmet proponent logic, this should not be a problem and would make driving safer. I guarantee driver's vision and hearing would be drastically altered and not for the better. When are people going to put this mandatory helmet obsession to bed? Wear one if you want or ride without one. There are so many other issues we should put our time and efforts into.
2006-10-27 21:39:37 · answer #2 · answered by BikerBob 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
NO. I think it is because of the insurance companies.
there is no helmet law here in Arizona
I always wear my helmet and safety gear when I am ripping threw the dirt.
But I do not wear my helmet when i am riding my bike on the street
I cant see or hear the cars around me as good l with a helmet on. Its way to hot here in the summer to wear one and the half helmets are really only good for looks they wont help much in a crash.
2006-10-27 19:11:40 · answer #3 · answered by Sunglass kid 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No. That was done in the 70s and also with the national speed limit. Traffic law is still the purview of the state and any legislator that seeks to reduce personal liberties will see a public reaction.
Helmet laws suck. I always wear a helmet.
2006-10-27 20:40:31 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I hope not. I live in Illinois, one of the few states with NO helmet law at all. If motorcycles have to wear helmets shouldn't people who drive convertables have to too?
2006-10-29 23:06:15 · answer #5 · answered by Dan D 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not that I'm aware of, but the insurance companies would love it. Greatly reduce the number of serious injuries.
I ride a bike, and use a helmet, that's my choice. But it is strange how a state can make it illegal not to wear seat belts, but will allow bikers the choice to wear a helmet or not.
2006-10-28 17:33:14 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have been riding motorcycles for 28 years ( since i was 15 ) and ever since i can remember they have been fighting for and against helmet laws. Here in Texas you dont have to wear one unless you are under 18. But they recently made it law to wear one in Louisiana which is real close to us and we like to run over there on the bike sometimes. It is a real pain to have to deal with the helmet. No law in Arkansas but one in Missouri.
We are pretty much anti helmet for many good reasons. If you go down and it gets hooked on something you can break your neck. It also hinders sight and sound making some driving situations more hazardous than without a helmet. They cause neck fatigue and if not the perfect fit, cause you to fight the wind trying to hold your head up which is a distraction from your driving. Also most helmets will break if you throw them down hard enough and i have heard a billion stories of paramedics removing a helment only to find nothing but blood etc inside it. I wont gross you out with details.
People have been arguing this issue since i was a teenager and probably before. I am 43 now and still riding. I think it should be left up to the individual whether they want to wear one or not.
They gripe about the cost to the tax payer for the ones who do not wear one and get seriously injured in a bike accident. But what do they do about all the other things that tax payers pay for that we shouldnt have to?
I am normally a conservative type , even though i have not always been , but this issue i think should be left up to the rider. If the government gets it way it will cause all 50 states to have a helmet law for all ages. They have nothing better to do than to find something to fight for so they look busy and can keep their jobs. I dont think they really care if a bunch of people on Harleys die. Or any other bike for that matter.
Will they get this passed soon for all 50 states? It isnt likely. They have not been able to for 28 years that i know of. Bikers fight this law tooth and nail and have organizations to help them fight it in congress.
The biggest danger to bikers is people in cars and trucks not paying attention and pulling out in front of them. This happened to us last spring when an idiot pulled out of his driveway on a country road and didnt even look to his left to see if anything was coming. He missed our front fender by inches and we had to hit the ditch and get around him and barely made it. I tried to call him over to us to tell him to look next time but the coward backed up squealing tires and took off the other way after we dropped the bike. He didnt even care if we were ok or hurt the bike.
The other biggest danger is the crotch rockets that kids ride and go way too fast on.
And last but not least , it is drinking and drugs. Like it or not , they slow your reactions and one second too late can mean life or death.
Helmets wont save you if a car pulls in front of you, which is normally how people are killed on motorcycles.
Ok ,off my soap box now.
2006-10-27 19:32:06 · answer #7 · answered by Mary N 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
We certainly hope not.
Withholding funding is just one way the Federal government gets states to do what thier people have voted against.
Look how they pass it out to get "Real ID" passed!
If the state does not support the program, for whatever reason, funding gets cut.
2006-10-27 17:50:33 · answer #8 · answered by Firecracker . 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I hope not.........Florida has Let those who ride decide except 18 and younger plus if only u have a permit ,to go helmetless you must carrie $10.000 in insurance , I hate a Helmet
2006-10-27 21:28:06 · answer #9 · answered by Terry S 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They should be.
People are dying right and left in Florida where the helmet law was repealed.
This is a state where one of our motto's is, "Arrive Alive" on a sign with a seat belt.
But, we repeal the helmet law.
How stupid is that?
2006-10-27 16:05:45 · answer #10 · answered by timc_fla 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋