champion221elite
Super Member
I just talked to a buddy who is pushing for Michigan to repeal it's mandatory helmet law.
He says, "If I crash my motorcycle, I'd rather die".
He says, "If I crash my motorcycle, I'd rather die".
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A helmet is mandatory for riders that have their "temporary" license. Also, after you obtain your endorsement, you have to wear a helmet for one year. After that... "Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death". (or maybe both if you decide to not wear the gear... :sadface: )
The MSF course is optional in the state of Ohio.
I was informed by my boss that it's just us gearing up because we don't know how to ride. Let me explain a little better........While putting on my gear, esp. the pants, my boss laughs and puts this big grin on, I ask him why he's laughing and he explained it to me. His $12 helmet+$1 DOT sticker is better than my CF full face helmet because it's "cooler" and I think he means that in more than one way. I said I gear up because I don't want to end up in ER getting road rash scrubbed clean, his response.......Harley riders don't crash. Can't really argue with that logic huh?
I just talked to a buddy who is pushing for Michigan to repeal it's mandatory helmet law.
He says, "If I crash my motorcycle, I'd rather die".
I agree. You are more likely to be fatally injured without gear. How much does your insurance pay out if you die, and total your bike? Last time I checked, that finite number was smaller than the individual medical coverage max number.
How much does it pay, if you total the bike, live and max out your medical benefits? Between immediate care at the time of the accident, and therapy afterwards...... which number do you think is greater?
I'm not claiming it's a conspiracy. It's more than likely just a convenient fact.
Any corporation that is publicly held (as in has stock holders) is almost certainly not interested in the welfare of it's clients, before the welfare of it's bottom line.
Look at states that have repealed their helmet laws. The fatality stats go up, every time. It's a sure bet the number of accidents stays very nearly uniform, before and after. More fatalities mean less lengthy hospital stays @ > $1K/day, followed by PT, etc, etc.
Just food for thought.
Helmets are also mandatory for riders under 18 years old. The MSF course is optional, but if you take it and pass, you do not have to take the rider skill test at the license testing station. Many, many riders fail that skill test, but the MSF instructors really want you to pass so they do all they can to help you pass the MSF test.
As far as justifying helmet laws based on insurance, I agree that insurance rates might be lower if helmets were universally required. Based on that logic, insurance would cost less if: full gear was mandatory; motorcycles were limited to 20 HP, 70 mph maximum capablity; motorcycles were banned altogether (they serve no practical purpose that could not be met by other safer vehicles), etc., etc., etc. I would have no probelm charging riders who fail to wear helmets higher rates, just as smokers pay higher health and life insurance rates.
met laws, and other compulsory "safety" laws, are not the answer. Peresonally, I am glad my state got rid of it's stupid helmet laws. I never ride a motorcycle, or even a bicycle, without a helmet....EVER, but I don't care if other people do. You should be free to do whith yourself whatever you want. Do you not believe that you own your own body? Should smoking cigarettes be illegal as well, or eating cheeseburgers? I am a firefighter and I see the result of people's stupidity everyday, but that doesn't mean they don't have the right to do whatever they want as long as they aren't putting other people in danger. Is it collasally stupid to ride without a helmet? YES. Should it be illegal? NO. As far as insurance companies go....they could simply require that you wear a helmet in order for your policy to be effective if they were that concerned about it. Or, they could just charge you more if you ride without one. Then, you could decide between having insurance and going without a helmet. Apparently, they aren't concerned with it an neither am I. Do what you want to yourself. The only thing I disagree with is the tax payers footing the bill when they injure themselves, but that's a whole different issue. Just look at it this way...do you really want the government deciding what is healthy, safe, or whatever for you? Or, do you believe that you can make those decisions for yourself?
as for those that think helmet laws are silly, do you think insurance is silly too? what about other laws, are they silly? should people be allowed to run around killing who ever they please and the government should mind their own business? Yes that is an extreme example but no more extreme/silly than some of the others I read in this thread lol:
No offense, but your buddy is an idiot.
So if he lowsides in a corner and tumbles some, cracking his head on a rock or something, he'd rather die (no helmet) then get up and walk away (helmet) with only a few minor cosmetic items to fix???
it does not harm anyone to have a helmet law but it certainly harms people not to have one.
i think helmet laws should be in every state, it is crazy not to wear one. when people have accidents with no gear, they typically will have much more severe injuries which results in high medical bills (which a lot of people will not pay) which means higher insurance costs because of this overhead, it results in higher auto insurance, causes families unnecessary grief due to a loss of a loved one, it hurts the economy and it is not exactly something pretty to look at when someone wrecks without any gear.
it does not harm anyone to have a helmet law but it certainly harms people not to have one.
I think motorcycles should be banned in every state, it is crazy to ride one. when people have accidents on a motorcycle, they typically will have much more severe injuries which results in high medical bills (which a lot of people will not pay) which means higher insurance costs because of this overhead, it results in higher auto insurance, causes families unnecessary grief due to a loss of a loved one, it hurts the economy and it is not exactly something pretty to look at when someone wrecks their motorcycle.
it does not harm anyone to not ride a motorcycle but it certainly harms people if they are legal.
Helmet laws, and other compulsory "safety" laws, are not the answer. Peresonally, I am glad my state got rid of it's stupid helmet laws. I never ride a motorcycle, or even a bicycle, without a helmet....EVER, but I don't care if other people do. You should be free to do whith yourself whatever you want. Do you not believe that you own your own body? Should smoking cigarettes be illegal as well, or eating cheeseburgers? I am a firefighter and I see the result of people's stupidity everyday, but that doesn't mean they don't have the right to do whatever they want as long as they aren't putting other people in danger. Is it collasally stupid to ride without a helmet? YES. Should it be illegal? NO. As far as insurance companies go....they could simply require that you wear a helmet in order for your policy to be effective if they were that concerned about it. Or, they could just charge you more if you ride without one. Then, you could decide between having insurance and going without a helmet. Apparently, they aren't concerned with it an neither am I. Do what you want to yourself. The only thing I disagree with is the tax payers footing the bill when they injure themselves, but that's a whole different issue. Just look at it this way...do you really want the government deciding what is healthy, safe, or whatever for you? Or, do you believe that you can make those decisions for yourself?
Okay, you are entitled to your opinion, but, explain to me how the following could not be reasonably held by someone else:
If you are willing to allow the government to dictate behavior because of higher insurance, cost to society or whatever, don't be surprised or complain when someone in power decides you don't need to do something you like to do.
Personal responsibility. I don't need a nanny government legislating away our freedom in the name of safety. Kriswithak's comment about the public health system is exactly why. The more dependence we have on our caretakers, the bigger the stick to threaten. If you're dumb enough to make the squidly choice, enjoy your new motorized chair. Not my problem. Social Darwinism ftw!
I ride atgatt, by the way. No one mandated it either.
you are right everyone should be personally be responsible for everything they do. we do not require any laws or any government or heck even an economy. Everyone should just move back into caves and do as they please to anyone or anything. We need no society, no rules, no education, etc from "big brother".
Pretty much. I do agree that Ohio has quite a few riders without helmets. My three-year-old points out every one of them. Freedom means that we are free to make good decisions as well as bad ones.... as long as those decisions don't trample another's freedom.
Edit: why would you include the economy in your rant? Is it big brother's responsibility to provide us with jobs?