Do you always wear a helmet?

[airboss]

I must due to two small reasons.  One 12 yrs old, the other 6.

Two very good reason, I have two reasons also, Pain and Hurt. ATGATT

 

[Woodstock]

A license proves (well, is intended to prove, let's not get into an argument about how easy it is to pass drivers test) that you can drive well enough not to kill other people.  Seatbelts and Helmets do nothing but protect yourself, they shouldn't be legislated.

A license only proves that a person has minimal working knowledge of state traffic laws, not that they have ANY ability to drive without being a threat to themselves or others.

And your "victimless crime" argument is just dying for someone to jump in and pound to pieces. Tell it to the wives, sons and daughters of dead drivers who weren't bothered to wear seatbelts or helmets.

"Hell, I'm Dale 'The Intimidator" Earnhardt'. I don't need no gawdamn, sissyfied HANs device."

Thank you very much.

Victimless "crime"?? I didn't say anything like that. Of course, lots of people do stupid things that are legal and leave behind (innocent) loved ones.

My point is that having the state require me to have a drivers licence protects you from me (a little bit). I have to understand right-of-way, which side of the road, etc. Yes, I know it's laughably easy to pass a drivers test.

Helmet and seatbelt laws do nothing like that, they are _only_ to protect me from myself. I guess they protect my family (as you point out) from myself, but I'm not sure I would make the distinction _for_purposes_of_legislation_.

Anyway, like I said, I always wear a helmet, and always wear a seatbelt, I'm not arguing that they aren't a good idea.

 

[twowheelnut]

Did I mention lately that I like cheese? :eh:

 

[RadioHowie]

Did I mention lately that I like cheese?  :eh:

Is there a Cheese you prefer?

 

[Fencer]

I only wear a hell-mut when the misses and I are gonna....well.... ya know

We have 3 daughters already and I wouldn't want to burden society further

 

[wpbfjr]

original post in bad taste... deleted....

 

[RadioHowie]

Woodstock,

I think that we're in the same book, on the same page, possibly even the same paragraph. We both agree that helmet/seatbelt laws are certainly difficult to rationalize in a "I'm my own boss and know what's best for me" society, but even with their seeming intrusion on one's "rights" they do serve a legitimate purpose, albeit difficult to enforce.

Screw the ignorant meat puppet who refuses to wear a helmet/use a seatbelt. Doubt the world's gonna miss 'em much. But that same "you can't tell me what to do" attitude gets transferred along to the child he puts in the front seat in front of an exploding airbag, or lets wander around inside the car without restraint. Or ride across the tank of his ATV/dirtbike screaming down the neighborhood streets helmetless. The problem isn't the Future Darwin Award Winner operating the vehicle...it's the helpless victims along for a ride in/on those vehicles.

Three LEO friends of my don't bother to stop/ticket drivers not wearing seatbelts (we've discussed this amongst ourselves several times) but they will haul that ignoramus into court in a heartbeat for not enforcing the law when it comes to their more tender passengers.

So we both agree that using helmets/seatbelts is smart. We just don't agree that the law only "protects you from yourself." The area of influence goes beyond what's directly behind the handlebars or steering wheel.

 

[Woodstock]

Yep. And I agree about protecting children, I have no problem with laws designed to protect them, even from stupid parents. (This is where I distance myself from a more pure libertarian stance, I think).

Now, it does have to be shown to have a reasonable "risk/benefit/cost" situation. For example, I think you could save many childrens lives by not allowing them out of the house, but that would be silly. Or making children wear helmets inside of cars. Again, not many people suggest that. Helmets on bikes and Seatbelts in cars, yes, reasonable (IMO) to require for children.

Also, I do want to say that I think there is room for reasonable people to disagree on things like this, I'm just pointing out where I stand on it.

 

[evilmedic13]

Easy now boys,this is starting to resemble fight club on stn. I'm a paramedic on CFD and already in this early season I've had 15 mva's involving mc's,one fatal,so far. Honestly that moron didn't need a helmet,he got split by a gaurdrail,decent anatomy lesson for my rookie though,so he served a purpose.I always wear a helmet and gear ,but that's just me, I'm ugly enough. If anybody wants to say not wearing a helmet will possibly make you a burden in the event of a crash I've had a few where thankfully they were not wearing a helmet and 1 I KNOW could've lived if she wore a helmet,or just not have gotten on the squids bike.

As far as laws about protecting ourselves from ourselves here's one to ponder quietly amongst yourselves and yes this is comparable if not more relevant. How many people have ALWAYS worn protection while having sex?! As far as a greater risk to society i think this should go up there too! HIV,HERPES and some forms of HEPATITIS cannot be cured. Yet the burden to society from those diseases is far greater to all us due to ability to spread w/o detection. Think of the cost that medicines and hospitalization take from our tax dollars, add unwanted pregnancies and ,of course, cost-free (to them) abortions.

I've seen FAR more of these diseases in people than I have mc accidents,and honestly you're really not gonna kill too many people other than yourself and anybody that rides w/ you on bike as opposed to not wearing protection.I apologize to anybody that thinks I'm way off here,but if you think about it how many of us in our youth or in haste put ourselves at risk only to turn around and possibly infect someone else w/ what could be a death sentence and not even know about it?Too many idiots think w/ the little head and not the big one first,like the 43 .yo woman's husband who cheated on her and for their 10th weddind anniversary gave her AIDS as a present. How many guys w/o helmets have killed three or four people because of it? Devastated their loved ones? yes. Left their kids w/o a dad/mom? sure. Now imagine if they both died because one or the other was too stupid to wear a condom or insist on one w/ a sidepiece? The devastation to the family is the same physically but what about emotionally?

As I have said I've always worn gear,I don't expect anyone else to nor should it be mandated. Those laws are a pandora's box if you ask me.Just think about the others in your life as well, now get off the frickin' computer and go ride it's a beautiful life out there go enjoy it before something ruins it.

ride safe and smart.

 

[FJR1300]

Here's my answer...

WARNING: So as to not upset anyone... the above photo was taken for fun only. I always wear my helmet, except for the above picture.