[aubers68]

State of MI just passed the law that if you are over 18 and carry extra insurance you no longer are required to wear a helmet. I know many states have already passed this law, but I am so disturbed by it! What do you ladies think? I know it's nice to have freedom of choice... but I think as long as I am required to wear a seatbelt, they should be required to wear a helmet! I have heard stories where seat belts have actually caused harm in accidents, and I am required to wear one.... however I have never heard of a helmet causing harm in an accident, and yet motorcyclists have a choice to put one on or not. My brother has been in THREE motorcycle accidents, all of which were NOT his fault... if hadn't been wearing his helmet in at least 2 of them there's a pretty good chance he would not be here today.


(hopefully this won't start any debates I think we have a pretty good group to be able to discuss a topic that may cause "drama" without the "drama" )

[emeraldeyedimp]

Wow. I can't see CA ever passing a law like that, honestly it's just good sense to wear a helmet if you are on a bike since you don't have at least the frame of a car or such to protect you in a crash. People refuse to wear them though, I see girls where short skirts, tank top and heels on the back of bikes without so much as jacket to cover them; if they were to crash they would be nothing but road rash.

[happywife]

Having worked in EMS and being married to a paramedic, my stance on helmets and motorcycles is that they are a must if you are going to ride. Not neccessarily because you may or may not be a risky rider, but you could be wearing bright neon colors with flashing lights on your bike and the majority of people in cars just don't see you. Neither me or my husband have ever worked a fatal accident where the rider was wearing a helmet, but more than our fair share of riders who were not.

On the flip side, I have been on dirt bikes and 4 wheelers w/o a helmet and the bugs in your mouth and eyes and getting hit with rocks in the face seriously suck....

[LadyCoconut]

As a libertarian I generally prefer big government to mind their own business and stay out of my private life. However, it's my tax dollars going to scrape your brains off the road if you choose not to wear a helmet. Not to mention, even if it's the bikers fault, if we get in a wreck and the biker dies... I'm the one who has to live with that forever. So I'd prefer them to wear a helmet for MY peace of mind. So I don't mind this law.

Seatbelts I can understand if you're in the car with a minor who has no choice - wear it ecause in a wreck the adult not wearing a seatbelt becomes a deadly projectile. But alone in your own car? Just an easy way for local governments to make money. Wearing one is clearly the smart choice, but I don't think it should be the governments responsibility to keep people from making a stupid choice like to not wear a seatbelt.

[lmunoz8517]

My kids have to wear a helmet on their bicycles, so yea I think motorcycles should have to wear them!

[AllyssaM]

There's no helmet law in HI - And it always makes me nervous. However, the speed limits out here are like negative 5 [okay, not really but it's slow compared to CA] so I can kind of see/understand that. People are also allowed to rid in the cab of trucks out here - No matter where you're driving. DH sold his motorcycle - But I told him if he was to keep it, he'd always wear a helmet. He has to to get onto base anyways, but yeah. . . I think it's stupid when I see people riding on the freeway in flip flops, shorts and no helmet. Especially with how crappy the drives are out here! [Which is 1 reason why DH sold his motorcycle]

[K.A.T]

I feel they should wear them. If a cyclist gets into an accident with a motorist and the cyclist dies, the motorist could be looking at vehicular manslaughter. It's not fair if the person on the bike chooses not to wear their helmet. I shouldn't have to be jailed because you're too dumb to put on a helmet while riding your chopper.

[Jessimaaka]

They should wear them! Its the law in Ontario, and DH would never ride his without it. He doesn't ride it without his bike jacket as well....jackets etc. can be replaced, skin not as easily. Your head not so much at all. Its harder to see bikes.

The girl that reported to me at work will hopefully be returning to her job by perhaps this upcoming December....she was in a bike accident July 2011. She had two broken wrists, a broken femur and her pelvis broken in 6 places. No head injury because she was wearing her helmet, and no roadrash because she was wearing the proper gear. But its still 18 months off work because the person turning left didn't see her. In the hospital with her, there was 5 other bike accidents all from drivers turning left into them. She has been doing research and 97% of accidents are from drivers turning left at an intersection and hitting the bike going straight through since the distance they are away is judged incorrectly or they simply don't see them. She is becoming involved with more awareness around here about bikes since 99% of the drivers of the bikes are riding safely and its the cars that don't see them.

Sorry....bike safety is something that I am quite passionate about since DH rides and I want my children to have their father around for a while yet

[20ghanover]

I guess the government shouldn't have to legislate common sense but jeez! That seems like a no-brainer sort of law.

[tryingfornumber1]

Ugh, I live in Michigan too. I am appalled. And I think it's over the age of 21, not 18, but I could be wrong.

Still. No matter what age you are, riding a motorcycle without a helmet on is just a death wish.

[aubers68]

Originally Posted by tryingfornumber1

Ugh, I live in Michigan too. I am appalled. And I think it's over the age of 21, not 18, but I could be wrong.

Still. No matter what age you are, riding a motorcycle without a helmet on is just a death wish.

Oopps, you're right, it is 21

[afwifey09]

Theres no helmet law here in Florida either. I think it's stupid, as are motorcycles in general. DH is a firefighter and they also are first responders that go to all medical calls. Just last year he saw a girl with her body parts strewn throughout a stretch of highway.. she was wearing a helmet, but there was no way that had any chance at saving her. Thats just one of many, many stories he's brought home to me. I detest motorcycles, it's unnecessary risk with so many stupid drivers on the road.

[Mod-Lady Valkyrie]

Speaking as a former "biker chick" (one of my exes) I personally think changing this law is ridiculous. As others have said if a biker got into an accident and the consequences were worse due to not wearing a helmet (which in most scenarios they would be) it's not just the biker that suffers - it's everyone else involved in the accident - and their families - and the emergency services - and the tax payer. Hopefully most people will be responsible for the sake of others if not for themselves and still wear a helmet.

[rainbowfish]

I guess, if you're an adult and stupid enough to do it fine. What I don't like is the possibility of kids riding w/ parents and then not wearing a helmet. It sounds like they still have to in MI but I've seen several in IL w/ out a helmet. I don't know if they're breaking a law or not but there are tons of kid riders w/out them riding w/ Mom or Dad.

[CaddyMom126]

I think people should be wearing helmets on motorcycles period BUT I don't think the law should get involved with people over 21. If the voters in that state decided that it's up to an adult to make those decisions for themselves then I stand by that. (As both a supporter of a representative republic and a libertarian)

But in the case of kids as a pp mentioned those parents should be charged with (at least) child endangerment IMO

[Mountain~Mama]

Originally Posted by K.A.T

I feel they should wear them. If a cyclist gets into an accident with a motorist and the cyclist dies, the motorist could be looking at vehicular manslaughter. It's not fair if the person on the bike chooses not to wear their helmet. I shouldn't have to be jailed because you're too dumb to put on a helmet while riding your chopper.

I am no law expert but wouldn't the driver have to be negligent (drunk, running from the cops, excessive speeding.. breaking the law in the first place) to have it turn into vehicular manslaughter charges?

Chris has a Harley and we rode a lot the year we bought it, before we had kids. It was probably one of the best, happiest times of my life, I lever felt closer to Chris than I did that summer.

In Maine, the law says you have to wear a helmet when you have your permit and for the first year you have your licence. After that you don't have to wear one and you don't even have to wear eye protection. I think as an adult you should have the choice to wear a helmet or not. As far as eye protection, I think it should be worn, because that could CAUSE an accident if something hit you in the eye or the wind caused blurred vision.

[K.A.T]

Originally Posted by Mountain~Mama

I am no law expert but wouldn't the driver have to be negligent (drunk, running from the cops, excessive speeding.. breaking the law in the first place) to have it turn into vehicular manslaughter charges?

Chris has a Harley and we rode a lot the year we bought it, before we had kids. It was probably one of the best, happiest times of my life, I lever felt closer to Chris than I did that summer.

In Maine, the law says you have to wear a helmet when you have your permit and for the first year you have your licence. After that you don't have to wear one and you don't even have to wear eye protection. I think as an adult you should have the choice to wear a helmet or not. As far as eye protection, I think it should be worn, because that could CAUSE an accident if something hit you in the eye or the wind caused blurred vision.

Not always. That's why there are charges like involuntary manslaughter. And knowing there are charges like that, is why I think helmets should be worn. If a person has done something that has directly resulted in the death of another person, they could be looking at manslaughter charges. It also depends on the State you're in. When I took criminal law, I found out a lot of different actions can result in a manslaughter charge.

[Mountain~Mama]

Thanks for that info Liz. I hadn't realized that a common accident could result in such serious charges without the driver being negligent in some way.

[Jessimaaka]

And the bugs! I have a full head helmet, and I get bugs splattered on my visor and clean it pretty much after every ride....couldn't imagine having that in my face

DH once took a june bug in the thigh and limped for a few days....imagine getting that in the face!

Sorry...I'm in a quirky mood this morning.

[Mountain~Mama]

June bugs HURT!