Generally, the only differences is open or closed casket
WATE:
A state Senate committee Tuesday cleared a bill that would allow people over 21 to ride motorcycles without wearing helmets.
On an 8-3 vote, the Finance, Ways and Means Committee sent Sen. Tim Burchett’s bill to the full Senate.
Good. Freedom includes the freedom to be a dumbass.
April 26th, 2006 at 1:55 am
Thirty-some years ago I spent a fair amount of time on a Yamaha. Lived in NJ then, and state law said you had to “wear a helmet”. Friend would strap his over a knee. Cop gave him crap about it and waited until the helmet was, as designed, strapped on my friend’s head. You guessed it – up the street a rock came up off a car tire and hit him in the knee.
By the way, at that time about 10% of bikers were dying from head injuries. Which was the same % for those killed by head injuries in car accidents. Now, of course, you have all the safety equipment built into your average car/SUV/truck. Anyone out there have the current stats for head injuries in car and motorcycle accidents? (And, yes, I always wore my helmet on the ‘cycle.)
April 26th, 2006 at 8:43 am
I’m thinking that helmets make little if any difference in the event of a mcycle accident. I would like to see the stats for helmet/non-helmet injuries/deaths.
April 26th, 2006 at 5:09 pm
I ride a motorcycle. I’ll never ride without a helmet. I’ve had two wrecks, both of which resulted in a damaged helmet and me walking away relatively unscathed. Crash one was at about 50 mph in a turn. I lowsided on some gravel. Bike was totaled, but as it flipped through the air, the foot peg hit me in the head. Second wreck was at the corner of Chapman and Blount by Baptist Hospital. A woman pulled out in front of me (damn turns on red). I went over her hood at about 25mph or so and landed head first on the shoulder. Cracked the helment and gave me road rash.
This being said, if you are stupid enough to ride without a helmet, you sure as hell can. Anecdotes are not the be all end all, but every rider without a helmet won’t get to tell the tale. Still, I think the “no helmet” thing is about ego. These boomers who buy a Harley want everyone to see their face while riding those overpriced pieces of crap. Again, go ahead, it is your choice. Just don’t call me ‘pussy’ for wearing a helmet.
Oh, yeah. And junebugs. Nothing like a junebug right in the eye at 70mph.