helmet law

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Permalink Reply by David Jackson on April 14, 2008 at 2:29pm

I spend some time in Ft. Myers FL, where there is no helmet law, and the vast majority of motorcycle deaths there seem to involve helmetless riders. What makes me cringe even more than no helmet is a motorcycle rider wearing sandals. It's not as likely to be fatal, but seeing sandals gives me the creeps.

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Permalink Reply by mary blasius on April 14, 2008 at 5:08pm

I agree with you . I wear johnny rocket motorcycle boots when I ride. There is nothing attractive about bone sticking through flesh. It just makes sense to use protective gear. Everyone should know you take a chance when you ride. Every time you make it home without injury or worse It should be a great ride.I think Ohio has a no helmet law too doesnt it? I remember passing through in my car and seeing riders at 80mph thinking " I hope nobody pulls out in front of them."Drivers of cars dont seem to SEE motorcycles.

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Permalink Reply by Kurt D. Ristow on April 14, 2008 at 8:11pm

Hi Mary! I totally agree with you on the helmet law. I was hit by a car 20 years ago,2 broken arms and some bad road rash but the helmet saved my life. It was cracked in 2 places and had a big gouge out of it,they even had to tow the car away it was damaged so badly. Nice to have people like you that see the real life affects of car motorcycle accidents and can appreciate the helmet law,they do save lifes for sure. Take care,hope to meet some of you this summer!!! Kurt

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Permalink Reply by mary blasius on April 16, 2008 at 6:25pm

Thanks Kurt! Hey you can be the best rider in the world but those cars are all around you not seeing. I have a red helmet and a red bike. I thought that might make me stand out more. I am not so sure if it helps or not.I`ve had a few close calls. Sounds like you had a guardian angel looking over a shoulder of yours that time. At least they havent made us buckle up :)

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Permalink Reply by The Cooks on May 8, 2008 at 7:49am

I take exception to your comment. If you have seen many motorcyclist that have been injured not wearing a helmet you must have been a RN for more than 48 years. It was the late 60's when the helmet law was passed and if you have been a RN that long it's time to retire. It is a fact that states that do not have a helmet law , injuries are not worse and in some cases fewer accidents than mandatory helmet law states.
Michigan is surronuded by states that helmets choice is voluntary and bikers bypass Michigan and go to events in Wisonsin, Ohio and many other surrounding states to enjoy the events. We probably won't repeal the law which is okay by me after 40 years but I feel that your statement was incorrect that you seen many trauma and deaths from not wearing a helmet, Must have been pre 60's or maybe another state. I do wear a helmet even in states that allow me the choice.

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Permalink Reply by mary blasius on May 25, 2008 at 3:29pm

No I am not THAT old to have been practicing for 48 yrs. I am 45 But I have practiced for over 20 yrs and mostly in Jersey City New Jersey. Just because there is a helmet law doesnt mean people wear helmets. That is the whole point.This discussion is supposed to be passionate . I appreciate your input and would also like to see the studies and data to support your comment that in fact " injuries are not worse and in some cases fewer accidents than mandatory helmet law states. I have another 20 plus yrs to practice. I `ll keep you posted :) - ride safe

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Permalink Reply by mary blasius on May 25, 2008 at 4:18pm

Comment by Spoilerzx on April 19, 2008 at 3:47pm
This issue is about choice, sure a helmet in certain situations may save you...but what are the real statistics...not ones from and ER triage unit. Not after watching a Nurse write a friends childs broken arm up as a atv accident because he was playing hide and seek in the garage and fell off the seat...and definitely not by the press who reportted a rfreinds death in a bike accident by pointing out that he wasn't wearing a helmet, never mentioning the fact that it had nothing to do with his death ( he bled out due to the fact that his right leg was removed by the car that hit him) p.s. the person driving the car was never charged with his death just given a ticket for failure to yield.
I wear a helmet because I have to. And most times i would even if it were my choice. But I still believe it should be a choice.

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Permalink Reply by mary blasius on May 25, 2008 at 4:19pm

Comment by mary blasius on April 20, 2008 at 1:20am
Delete Comment Based on a comparison of fatal crashes involving
motorcycles with two riders, at least one of whom was
killed, the National Center for Statistics and Analysis
(NCSA) of the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration (NHTSA) has estimated helmets to be
about 37 percent effective in preventing fatalities.1 In
2003, there were 3,661 rider deaths in fatal motorcycle
crashes. An effectiveness of 37 percent for motorcycle
helmets suggests that an estimated 1,158 additional
motorcyclists would have died were it not for the fact that
they were wearing helmets. Had all motorcyclists
consistently worn proper helmets, an additional 640
motorcyclists could have survived otherwise fatal crashes
in 2003. Unfortunately, the potential lifesaving benefits of
helmets are not being realized, as fatalities continue to
rise in response to declining helmet usage rates.
According to the 2002 National Occupant Protection Use
Survey, only 58 percent of motorcyclists nationally were
observed to be wearing helmets2. This represents a
dramatic decline since 2000, when the usage rate was 71
percent.the statistics are out there this one is from the DOT/and NSCA.Your right - It is all about choice.The events that you mention are unfortunate and an injustice

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Permalink Reply by mary blasius on May 25, 2008 at 4:20pm

Comment by Spoilerzx on April 20, 2008 at 9:59am
the thing that those in creases that all of those oganizations dont take into account is the number of bikes and the number of miles traveled by those bikes, when all of thease are taken into account , fatalities are down. That is not to say that say are exceptable, We need more training and better training for people driving cages they need to learn to look for bikes, how many of those deaths could have been prevented if some one had just hung up thier phone and paid attention to thier surroundings, WEll i am off the soap box for a while.
Live free Ride free

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Permalink Reply by mary blasius on May 25, 2008 at 4:22pm

there seems to be a glitch in the system, some of the helmet law discussion from earlier were in the other discussion section so I added them here. I hope it makes more sense with all included.I had my appendix out so I wasnt able to ride yet. I hope everyone has a safe Memorial Day weekend.

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Permalink Reply by David Jackson on August 6, 2008 at 11:44am

I don't know why scooter riders are allowed to go without a helmet. They are just as dangerous as motorcycles, in some ways more so. Either have a helmet law that applies to all motorized vehicles or don't have one. I also didn't care for the proposal to allow motorcycle riders to "buy" their way out of wearing a helmet by paying the state. How would the police ever enforce that law? It would gut the helmet law, and if that's the intent, then repeal the helmet law. None of this would impact me, since I'd still wear my helmet, but these half laws are nonsense. Our legislature should have the guts to either require helmets or not require them, and scooters should be included in whichever direction the legislature takes.

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Permalink Reply by mary blasius on August 10, 2008 at 11:07am

Here Here, I am with you 100%. It bothers me to see scooter moped riders scooting down the roads helmet less. they arent able to cruise as fast as a motorcycle. Could that possibly be the reasoning behind that?

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