Motorcycle helmets - are you for or against them being mandatory to wear?

Answer 1

I don't disagree that helmets in some situations are safer. But, there are recorded cases of helmets killing the wearer. I think it should be a matter of personal choice. I live in a free state and I don't wear one about 75% of the time.

I especially don't wear one when I ride to church because it gets a couple of people worked up. They need to be more concerned about the Lord in my heart than the motorcycle between my legs.


EDIT: A lot of you seem pretty sure that I'm going to suck up resources if I go down. First off, I have medical insurance. Secondly, unless you're paying Railroad Retirement, I promise you I'm paying double what you are paying in social security. (Remeber there is a limit on how much social security they take out on you. They quit taking it out after you make about 75,000 in a year. The same is true with RRR except we pay RR Tier II which means we get taxed double. Don't believe me check out the railroad retirement website.) My disability benefits will come from the Railroad Retirement Board not SSI. so unless you've paid a dime into RRR, I don't want to hear about how much it's costing you. And as far as medicare, I pay a heck of a lot of medicare taxes. It won't shame me to use some of that tax money if I have to.

Now, put down your cheeseburger, your bottle of rum and your cigerettes before you have a stroke. You might use up some of those resources you're so worried about.

Answer 2

I ride without a helmet. So by nature I would have to say No they should not be mandatory.

However. I feel that they should be mandatory for new drivers, and experienced drivers without proper insurance.

I personally have full life and accident insurance to cover any injuries I get from an accident.

But as for only idiots ride without a helmet.....

I've had two friends that are no longer with us because of the helmet. the helmet got caught in the accident and broke their necks. I know that was a freak accident and is not the norm, but had they not had the helmet they would have survived.

But the same can be said of some auto accidents where the seat belt did more damage than good.

Answer 3

Definitely should be mandatory. I live in a state, Florida, where they have let people stop wearing helmets about a decade ago. Usually when you see a motorcycle accident now, the guy is dead. They say the motorcycle fatalities in FL have increased by 25% since they have stopped wearing helmets. And you may think if they want to be dummies it's their life (or loss of life), but half don't have medical insurance, so when they are hospitalized medical care is paid for by the government which is paid for by you and I of course. My husband is an avid motorcycle lover and has gone to Bike Week in Daytona for 40 years, but would never think of going without a helmet on his bike. It's like wearing shorts on a bike. Crazy!

Answer 4

I am all for wearing a helmet, but I don't think they should be mandatory.

I almost always wear a full-face helmet to keep wind, bugs, birds, and debris from hitting me in the face. In all of the wrecks I've ever had, I've never touched my head (I've been lucky), but I will probably continue wearing a helmet indefinitely. The exception is if I am cruising along at low speed by the beach or someplace - the last time I was in SC, I seem to recall that there were no helmet laws, though I still wore one on the highway and interstate.

If someone wants to go without a helmet, they should be free to do so - but if they crash and crack their head open, then oh well.

Answer 5

For. Our insurance premiums are higher due to us having to pay for injuries. (Same reason seatbelts should be mandatory.) Also, do you realize how many of our TAX dollars go to pay to take care of people with catastrophic injuries that could have been prevented if they had been wearing a helmet on a motorcycle, or a seat belt in a car? If it affected ONLY them, then fine, they could make their own decision. But it doesn't. It affects my wallet, and that makes it my business, too.

Answer 6

as an ER nurse - the other poster was correct - ride a motorcylce without a helmet you are an Organ Donor on wheels.

Yes I think they should be mandatory - because its not the inital impact that's the issue it's the unlucky fools who live as permanent veggies who suck up hundreds of thousands of dollars in medical care......at tax payers expense.

I don't care that you want to smash your skull in by not wearing one - have a field day.....job security for those in the medical field. What I have an issue with is the fact that if you live you will be sucking up resources that could be better spent on smarter people!

Answer 7

I have a friend who works as an emergency room nurse. She told me that the people who work in ER's have a technical term for motorcyclists who do not wear helmets. I asked her what that term is.

"Organ donors."

I think that wearing motorcycle helmets ought to be optional, but anyone who suffers life-ending head injuries while riding without one ought to be considered as having consented to have his/her organs donated.

I also think that anyone who suffers head injuries that would have been prevented if he/she had worn a helmet should be ineligible for any government aid of any kind, including aid to their families. People have a right to do what they want, but they also have a responsibility to not call on the government for help if doing what they want gets them into trouble. No helmet, no government bailout if you get hurt. It's that simple.

Answer 8

Not mandatory. I used to live outside of Daytona Beach. When it's over 100 degrees and extreemly humid...they are a nightmare. Sometimes they are more a hinderance than a help and I beleive it should be left to the disgression of the driver and rider.

Answer 9

I'm in with the 'not mandatory, but you're an idiot if you don't' camp. I also really wish there were a way to make the rider completely legally culpable and unreimbursable if they choose not to wear it and are injured. It's because we are forced to pay through both tax and insurance for knuckleheads that don't that insurance companies can hold decent, sensible folks financially responsible for those who aren't. Same with seatbelts.

Answer 10

They should not have them be mandatory, as a form of Darwinism. Anyone who would ride without one is obviously an idiot.