No helmet law

Well Michigan just passed the no helmet required law as long as you add another $20,000 dollars of medical insurance to your policy. What do you guys think? Personally I agree that the government should not be requiring that you wear a helmet. They have enough laws on the books that are already infringing on our rights! Will I wear a helmet? Absolutely! I just don't want the government telling me I have too.

Sorry bud, but in my opinion you need a helmet when on a bike. Seriously, who really cares if it is made law - a helmet is a no brainer when riding!! I would be dead if this was not a law down here because I would have chosen to ride without a helmet if permitted when I first started out - I have come off a couple of times and my old helmets have the scars which my head would not have been able to show!!

Is it really that important that someone tells you what to do??

Well said Beacker.

Im not a fan of being over over-legislated,
but some law's are there to protect folk from
their own stupidity.

debate debate, yep i agree i hate some legislation and used to hate it when we went to helmet law in the UK (Am i that old)

anyrate it is not just our rights which are affected...No way as a fireman or police officer or a paramedic would i want to have to pick up bits of skull or brains... not nice at all in fact even with helmet laws wear you protect yer nut not nice any accident ... not just those involved but further a field the wearing a helmet could save your family and friends a lot of grief....

Now we have had helmet wearing laws in the UK i am definately for them saved my head several times... and not my fault having those particular accidents both caused by a four wheeled tosser with tunnel vision..

Helmet laws are ok with me....

i personally think the law should also make it law you wear approved gloves jackets and trousers....not forgetting boots

IMHO we shouldn't gripe about SENSIBLE legislation, and legislation requiring us to wear helmets and seat belts is very sensible. It protects society from the numbskulls who wouldn't use such obvious basic safety measures.

Like laceandwhiskey I rode in the UK before the helmet law and drove before seatbelts were made compulsory and consider myself lucky to have survived. Back then people thought nothing of going without helmets and seatbelts and also drink driving. The laws came in and eventually society's attitudes became by and large more grown up and responsible.

Old and Disgraceful

Doesn't surprise me that the guys that have had most of their rights stripped from them in the first place, are for helmet laws. You've been brainwashed into believing that your Gov. knows best. I'm 100% against helmet/seat belt laws. If you're dumb enough to ride or drive without one then you deserve what you get.

Beaker wrote:

Sorry bud, but in my opinion you need a helmet when on a bike. Seriously, who really cares if it is made law - a helmet is a no brainer when riding!! I would be dead if this was not a law down here because I would have chosen to ride without a helmet if permitted when I first started out - I have come off a couple of times and my old helmets have the scars which my head would not have been able to show!!

Is it really that important that someone tells you what to do??

I never said one didn't need a helmet, just that I don't want a dumb politician telling me I have to wear one. I would also probably be dead or seriously injured without a helmet. Hit a road repair section that twisted the front end and boom, I was down rolling on the pavement. After getting my wits, I notice a huge gash on the front forehead area of the helmet.
Anyway, the law in Michigan also stipulates that you must be 21 or older, additional insurance as stated, and an additional sticker on the bike denoting that you're approved by the state to do so. Maybe I should call it "a stupid sticker".
I will always wear a helmet!

I will never ride without my gear on ... Period !

However I agree applewins .... Government needs to stay out of my personal choices !!!!

applewins wrote:

Well Michigan just passed the no helmet required law as long as you add another $20,000 dollars of medical insurance to your policy. What do you guys think? Personally I agree that the government should not be requiring that you wear a helmet. They have enough laws on the books that are already infringing on our rights! Will I wear a helmet? Absolutely! I just don't want the government telling me I have too.

100% whith you applewins here in italy governments put us in constant pressure no mods allowed in the bike,every single mods need to be written and approved from the veicle department but none of those office takes the responsability to approve such mods,plus you have to spend more than 100 euros for papers and burocracy,if you drive whith an aftermarket slip on you risk a 400 euros fine,if the slip on is ok for spain or germany does not means that is ok for italy( united europe )is up to the officers!!!! police,carabinieri,local police the worse one that fines people just to increase income for the county.the law about helmet in italy has about 20 years if the got you whithout an helmet they take your bike ,for good.but if you slip off the bike you have agood chance to be decapitated from our guard rail,im apologise for my moanings but we all to have to drive safe and sound, but please do not end up like us in italy,defend your rights to chose for god sake!!!

wow, italy stricked on bike laws

Definitely no brainwashing here, just a mature considered opinion. Not a kneejerk reaction.

Old and Disgraceful

Arguing over a common sense rule is hard for me understand...I usually wear body armor, leather gloves, & a helmet all at once while riding. I have a few friends that went down with no or little safety gear and still have the scars to prove it, but I know thatin the same circumstances with safety gear they woul have been fine.
I hope they never vote on your right to breath...lol

metaldisorder wrote:

I will never ride without my gear on ... Period !

However I agree applewins ....
Government needs to stay out of my personal choices !!!!

Then just consider the law as being there to help
those dumb @rse's that aren't as smart as you.....

i swear that i just wrote a post and posted it... oh well can't remember what i put but it was long winded way of saying Tony Nitrous is correct..

The thing with people being OK with these laws are, when do they stop? Would you be OK with laws saying that you must ride with a full race suit or even better, limit all production bikes to 65mph? Because let's face it, those things will save a lot of lifes also. Eff that! I like having the option/ freedom to decide if I want to wear one or not. Again, doesn't surprise me that the guys that have their freedoms taken from them are perfectly OK with taking mine

Last edited by Energizer on Sun 15 Apr 2012 - 16:17; edited 1 time in total

My singular complaint with no helmet laws is this- there are other people on the road and not all of them are maniacal, dangerous drivers. If i were a responsible cager going 65mph in the right lane and a capless biker near me accidentally skids out into my car because of some sand or rain or another driver merging onto him/her without looking, and that helmetless rider gets severely hurt or dies as a result, I dont want to have to live forever wondering if some part of that is my own fault even though I'm just driving normally.

My point is, I feel that sometimes our want, as humans, for 'freedom' can be selfish. A rider's choices inevitably affect other people (family, friends, strangers) and if a helmet exponentially increases the chances of a live saved with or without other gear, I see no harm in a law mandating the use of an approved helmet at all times when riding.
While the fed tows a fine line, it isn't always good to err on the side of limitless freedom by default.

It makes more sense to me to force people to be safer than to force everybody else to deal with the consequences of neglecting safety for the sake of freedom, particularly when the situation involves millions across countries and continents.

Energizer wrote:

The thing with people being OK with these laws are, when do they stop? Would you be OK with laws saying that you must ride with a full race suit or even better, limit all production bikes to 65mph? Because let's face it, those things will save a lot of lifes also. Eff that! I like having the option/ freedom to decide if I want to wear one or not. Again, doesn't surprise me that the guys that have their freedoms taken from them are perfectly OK with taking mine

European community council or who ever they are in Europe are on about many things. from satalite cut outs for bikes that speed, transponders to know exactly where you go and how many miles you do so they can tax you, motorcycle air bags, leg protectors, BHP restrictions, loud exhuast bans, most recently they are trying to stop us customising or altering our machines from just a wing mirror to exhuast system... democracy has a way of dealing with this and bikers in France and the UK showed our dissaproval and the Government sat up and listened... car drivers are next for the same idea's and i hope they will get together... groups like NABD (national association bikers disabled) MAG (Motorcycle action group), BMF British motorcycle federation) have many MP's who are members and are also bikers... so we are doing well over here to accept ideas and say what we want and don't want.... not forgetting individual bike clubs whom are members of said associations...

The distinction is between SENSIBLE mandatory requirements like helmets, seatbelts and of course insurance and OTT intrusion in matters that are not particularly antisocial like loud exhausts etc. The former are a minor and inconsequentional reduction in our so called freedoms - the freedom to act like a complete dickhead.

Some of the potential legislation that has been mooted in Europe would however be a draconian infringement in our freedom to individualise our vehicles and the idea of extreme surveillance goes against common cherished beliefs in the right to privacy. It is in these matters that we have been making our voices heard and our government in the UK and the European legislature are listening to us.

As a member of NABD I have made my opposition to the things that matter heard and like our friends in MAG, the BMF and others we will continue to actively engage with the lawmakers in the IMPORTANT matters that affect us.

Old and Disgraceful

I agree there. Thankfully in the US there are only minimally invasive laws when it comes to motorcycles- helmets and insurance, and inspection on a state by state basis. I would be livid as well if the fed was watching my bike or limiting power to low levels.

You are not free to do as you please when it puts a bad light on others outside of your own choices...u wreck, die, etc cuz you chose not to wear a helmet and the rest of the motorcycle community has to suffer because of the negative image associated with your choice as a motorcyclist. I would see it as protecting the community as a hole.

fallenangels wrote:

You are not free to do as you please when it puts a bad light on others outside of your own choices...u wreck, die, etc cuz you chose not to wear a helmet and the rest of the motorcycle community has to suffer because of the negative image associated with your choice as a motorcyclist. I would see it as protecting the community as a hole.

Biggest cop-out I've heard. So all you're worried about is image? Tell you what, don't tell me what to do and I'll return the favor. Not sure how my brains scattered across the highway has anything to do with you. And don't give me that ambulance/ firefighter having to clean it up BS. They knew the job details when they got in the field.

Last edited by Energizer on Mon 16 Apr 2012 - 0:35; edited 1 time in total

Helmet laws are not there to protect the jack ass rider who would be willing to ride without them. They are there to protect the tax paying citizen who will have to pay to either keep your worthless ass alive, or pay to bury your worthless ass.

Helmet laws are not the to protect the short sighted idiot who would be willing to ride without them. They are there to protect the other driver who didn't see you cutting traffic lanes and bumped your worthless ass to the ground and you either die or are injured.

Helmet laws are not about protecting the rider. They are about protecting the rest of us from a dumb ass who is willing to ride without one.

I hope this insults anyone who won't wear a helmet. Yeah, i just called you a whole bunch of different kind of asses.

dang hugh. I see tough love is your policy.

hugh308 wrote:

Helmet laws are not about protecting the rider. They are about protecting the rest of us from a dumb ass who is willing to ride without one.

I hope this insults anyone who won't wear a helmet. Yeah, i just called you a whole bunch of different kind of asses.

FTW!

I could care less what you wear when you ride, just giving you the rational behind the laws. It does put a negative image on all motorcycles as a community when one dies or is seriously injured because no one looks at the individual they look at the motorcycle as being the cause. Personally out of all the accidents that i have investigated the ones with no helmet or novelty helmets are most commonly resulting in fatalities...many would have survived if they had wore a simple layer of protection...and no police don't pick up the results of your rights off the highway inmates assigned to the police department get that honor. In most cases these are the same irresponsible people that drink and drive when riding also...a helmet less rider just killed a 4 year old kid recently here after speeding, doing A wheels, a striking this lil girl...no negative image there.

hugh,
Although I ride with a helmet, I couldn't disagree more with your statement(s) One day the folks passing those regulations may decide that you are such a dumb-ass for even getting on a cycle, that you need help making simple decisions. After all, if safety, saving lives, preventing injuries, and saving medical costs was the main concern, why on earth would you ever ride a cycle? What you are saying about folks not wearing helmets could just as easily be said about anyone riding cycles! As usual...JMO