Should Texas law require bike riders of all ages to wear a helmet?

Question

Either way, why do you think so?

Answer 1

yes, i think helemt is very important, even tho i rarely use it

Answer 2

Quite a loaded question.

I do believe that everyone should wear a helmet. However, as pointed out earlier some offer little or no protection- not from the initial impact (all helmets offer initial impact protection, more or less)- but from the bounce and skid.

A helmet shuold be purchased that includes an integral hard shell...that is, one that has the foam molded directly to the shell.

Here's how a bicycle helmet works. Assume you were just in a crash and are falling- head first- towards the ground:

1) Initial impact- core compresses and breaks absorbing a significant amount of the impact;
2a) Subsequent impact with a cheap helmet- helmet is ejected from the head, the head hits the ground resulting in injury;
2b) Subsequent impact with a good helmet- foam structure is held together and remains on head, the head hits the ground resulting in lower risk to head injury.

Answer 3

Well, people should be free to decide to participate in the Darwinean Award.....

I have seen accidents where the helmet was broken in 3, but the rider just got some black eye or something like that.

I don't know how a state can enforce such a law, considering that many people ride almost anywhere, at a mountain, neighborhood, parks, etc..

Answer 4

From a bicycle mechanic and Paramedic, I think helmets should be required on kids. Adults are another story. I wear my helmet even when I test ride a repair. and, although, I've never been to a fatality accident involving a bicyclist not wearing a helmet, I have taken care of plenty of kids and adults who were in better shape with their helmets than without.

Answer 5

Florida already has a law similar to that on the books and I believe it states that children up to the age of 16 yrs. must wear a helmet when bicycling. They even went to the extent of visiting schools and giving helmets to those kids who couldn't afford them.

The only problem I have with the law is they do not in-force it. and what really sends the kids a bad message is that when they turn 16 they get there motor vehicle license and buy a motor cycle and don't have to wear a helmet (DUH????) wheres the reasoning in that.

Answer 6

No, that's not the governments job. That's the parents job. I can raise my own kids, i don't need the state of Texas doing it for me. The government already has it's hands in to many things, we don't need the bike helmet police also.

Answer 7

It has actually been found recently that bike helmets, particularly the low end, cooler foam types, provide ZERO protection. Therefore, unless a more efficent helmet is developed, there is no reason to make it manditory, or even suggested.

Answer 8

I say no. If someone wants to risk there life by not wearing a helmet, I say let'em.! It's there own fault if they have an accident.

Answer 9

I believe that everyone in the U.S. should wear helmets even if they don't want to. This is b/c so they don't flip and break their own personal skull b/c they would've been dead.

Answer 10

yep ,lets make another law and put um all in jail wth the other law breakers every time they brake a law, oh and since their probably minors and the parents are responsable for them, lets put the parents in jail too.

Answer 11

yes,
the question is ... is your head important to you ? if so, wear a helmet.
Its not a question of freedom of choice but a way to keep medical costs down. Head and brain trauma can be expensive and fatal.