Helmet law...

[Keyoke]

Swiped from the News forum, felt it had relevance here!..

Mixed emotions about motorcycle helmet law
woodtv.com


(Grand Rapids, March 17, 2005, 7:54 p.m.) Motorcyclists are one step closer to legally riding without a helmet, as the state Senate voted Thursday to repeal the helmet law .

Some motorcycle groups have been fighting wearing helmets for years. They say they want freedom. But, insurance analysts say automobile drivers are the ones who will pay.

Motorcyclists say they say they don't necessarily want to ride without a helmet, they just don't want the government to force them to.

"I'm very excited," Randy Eggers of the American Bikers Aiming Toward Education told 24 Hour News 8.

If the state House follows suit, and Governor Jennifer Granholm gives her approval, the law will mean more tourism, more trade, more license fees, according to Eggers - more than a billion dollars worth - just in time for a cash-strapped state.

"It's a way for our government to really look at increasing and not make so many budget cuts," Eggers adds.

But, opponents say the law is dangerous and sends the wrong message to the state's youth. Aside all the safety concerns, they say it will make everyone's insurance premiums go up, no matter if you ride a motorcycle or drive a vehicle.

"It will affect all of us. Everyone who pays an auto insurance premium ought to be up in arms about this, because you're going to see in the long run an increase in costs as a result of the increased number of closed-head injuries for motorcyclists not wearing helmets," said Rob Umstead of Steenland Insurance Agency.

"Helmets do not prevent accidents. Even with a helmet and if a car pulls in front of me, the impact of the brain against my skull is the same whether I have a helmet on or not, is not going to change," Eggers said.

So in the name of freedom, motorcycle riders are one step closer to making a choice - to wear a helmet or to ride their bikes with a bare skull.

The law now goes to the House of Representatives where it appears there are enough votes for it to pass. But, the governor openly says she is opposed, which means it could get vetoed, and at this point there aren't enough votes to override the veto.
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Total Motorcycle Website

[Keyoke]

My own thoughts on this - Law or not, I'm wearing a lid.
I can see why some people would like to have the choice, but I can't see any situation where I would want to ride without one.

I believe they have saved countless riders lives in the past, and certainly helped me before now, too.

Having the law in place could protect those that may not realise the importance of wearing a helmet, so I can see it's advantages.

[muz]

Why should all drivers pay extra premiums so that a few people can have the "freedom" to be dumb? I just don't understand how we make laws to allow people to succumb to their own stupidity. I take comfort in the knowledge that sooner or later, Darwin's law will come into play and weed these people out of the gene pool.

[ronboskz650sr]

"... the impact of the brain against my skull is the same whether I have a helmet on or not, is not going to change," Eggers said.

There's a proven false statement. Even bicycle helmets reduce the velocity at which your brain hits your skull...duh!

[Ladymx]

"... the impact of the brain against my skull is the same whether I have a helmet on or not, is not going to change," Eggers said.

There's a proven false statement. Even bicycle helmets reduce the velocity at which your brain hits your skull...duh!

Maybe the eggers have hit there heads already a few times.

[ronboskz650sr]

"... the impact of the brain against my skull is the same whether I have a helmet on or not, is not going to change," Eggers said.

There's a proven false statement. Even bicycle helmets reduce the velocity at which your brain hits your skull...duh!

Maybe the eggers have hit there heads already a few times.

[Keyoke]

It's obvious certain people don't quite understand the absorption of impact theory.

By his thinking, it would be just as smooth a ride on a hardtail chop as a bike with full Ohlins suspension......