The Truth Behind Motorcycle Helmet Laws
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 3 มี.ค. 2023
- rvz.la/3L1OHp0 | Read Jen’s article on Common Tread
Motorcycle helmet laws - why are they so complicated? Where did they come from, and why do they vary state-to-state? Each rider has an important choice to make when gearing up, watch our video as we cover the history of helmet laws, helmet safety statistics, and how each state law might impact your ride.
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Check out Jen’s article on Helmet Laws on Common Tread! rvz.la/3SJQsJm
Laws aside, I cannot ride without a helmt on. And I have seen firsthand a crash with a rider where the helmet ended up totally scratched and banged up. The riders head was ok.
Regardless of whether helmets should or should not be mandatory, I would very much want to see the DOT standard updated, preferably to match ECE standards.
Fully agree here. DOT is garbage. Interestingly, though, if it is updated, I predict an even greater push to repeal helmet laws. Because with an updated DOT standard, the "brain bucket" won't pass muster.
Agreed!
Same, I don't much see the point of helmet laws if you can comply just by throwing on some mostly-worthless brain bucket. If we're going to do it, we should do it right
@@MH5tube anything that is DOT approved now is better than not throwing on anything at all.what dumb logic. You can get better ratings like ECE just be searching a little bit
Just use the ECE ratings and forget about DOT. It's all you need.
I am chief surgeon of a face trauma department at a Level 1 Trauma Center hospital in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Me and my team operate, roughly, about 300 cases of facial fractures linked to motorcycle accidents every year, and I have been doing this for more than 20 years. I don't take my motorcycle to get bread at the bakery next corner without a full helmet on.
Christ. You're a hero.
Wth,. 300 per year,. Did other region case send to you too or wut.?
@@RoamingCosmos we are the biggest trauma and emergency center in the state. The face trauma department is not even one of the big ones. If you put all the surgical clinics together we operate around 1500 patients every month.
I work as a RN in some of the smallest and most rural hospitals in the upper plains states. All of these states, except Nebraska, have laws that only pertain to minors. Even in these very small hospitals, I have seen my fair share of potential organ donors come to the ER. A vast majority of these are helmetless. It makes me sick to have to a loved one to tell them their helmetless motorcycle rider will not be coming home.
Thank you for sharing.. im a motorcycle salesman.. i'll keep this in mind next time i make a sale and get the customer fitted for safety gear.
Now, this is how you cover an issue professionally, without taking sides, resorting to trolling your audience, click bait, or drama. Other outlets, please take notes. And thanks, RevZilla, for giving this topic the journalistic, even-keeled coverage it deserves.
I wish the news would do such a good job as she did.
I agree completely, but the regular media want none of this. Their job is to dictate to us how to live our lives based upon what the politicians and special interests direct them to say.
I'll await a better fortnine response that doesn't care about the facts and truths
Only in America would you think like this... helmet laws shouldn't be up for debate.
A rider that chooses not to wear protective gear and does not crash, does not affect me. If you choose to not wear gear and crash, it's very likely your medical bills are going to be much higher than someone who rides with gear and crashes. Insurance companies will lose money on the non protected rider and they are going to make up for it by charging ALL of us more to insure our bikes. So, you not wearing gear and crashing DOES affect others.
During my time as an EMT, I've seen my fair share of motorcycle injuries. It's incredibly sad when someone loses their life but the ones that hit me the hardest are the injuries that leave a person so disabled, they can't walk, go to the bathroom or feed themselves. I don't want to end up being a burden to my family or living the rest of my days in a nursing home.
This is exactly why I choose to wear my helmet. I don't want to end up being the one who has to have someone spoon feed me or handle my *personal* hygiene.
I also spent time working EMS and I have 15 years working with hospitals.
I never ride without my lid and I replace it every 4 years (I put on a lot of miles and I inspect them regularly).
If I end up in a wheelchair, I’m gonna be a bit bummed… but I’ll risk that. Getting my head mushed and spending my days drooling in a long term care? Hell no…
Helmets are extremely important, but you don't need a law and legal precedent of the state saying what you can and cant do to wear one. Im in argentina and here our socialist government mandated that all riders wear the domain plate numbers on helmet and a jacket to curb roberies comited by motocyclist, this had NO impact on roberies and all law abiding citizens have to dress like clowns to ride bikes. After a year people stopped following the law, but if you are stopped at a checkpoint if the traffic officer feels like giving a ticket then you are at the mercy of him. Most dont, but it is a shitty place to be, thanks to state that messes where they shouldn't.
Whats next? banning motorcycles? i mean, the lives saved would be WAY more than forcing helmets.
So true, and thank you for performing this incredibly important task. If a person not wearing a helmet gets severely injured the effect goes way beyond the emotional impact of just the family. The time and effort of the people involved in deconstructing the accident, hospital doctors and nurses, people involved with insurance claims, and the people involved with taking care of what's left of you in the nursing home. It ultimately affects insurance rates in a negative way, and lets not forget the impact to co-workers and other friends. I, by no means want to remove our civil liberties, but it just irks me when people say it "takes away" their personnel freedom as if they'd be the only person affected in a dangerous accident. And this is assuming no one else gets hurt in the accident. I recall an accident in California a few years ago where a motorcyclist approaching a T-intersection decided to speed up to "make the light," but ended up impacting the side of a car that was stopped waiting to turn left. The motorcyclist was instantly killed by decapitation, and also killed the male driver of the car. His spouse was in the passenger seat but survived. I don't know if the motorcyclist was wearing a helmet or not, but typically we can't choose our accidents. And they may have severe effects on other people, despite a person's personal freedoms.
@@michaelskinner896 Don’t get me wrong, full gear isn’t 100%, much like a seatbelt isn’t 100%. You can still get hurt and you can still die.
I’d recommend a safety course (MSF) and watching a lot of TH-cam to learn from other people’s mistakes. I hate to say I approve of the way they handle motorcycle education in Europe and Japan as it’s expensive and it’s controlling (you can only buy bikes that fall within a certain power band until you get the next level license and you have a couple years in between before that happens).
That said, bad things can happen to experienced riders as well.
My ecolabs rep in Portland kept wanting to buy my bike every time he popped in. I told him when I got ready to sell it, I’d let him know.
Two years later, he’s still asking me about the bike, but he’s excited about a distance trip him and his wife are making next month (guy was always buying and selling bikes, so he had quite the stable).
Then I get a new Ecolabs guy.
So I followed up on what happened.
I guess he got into an accident, collapsed a lung, they had to put him in a chemically induced coma and he was in the hospital for almost a month. He never came back to work, so I didn’t see him again.
Another one, EMS scraped the poor guy off the side of the road (I guess he just missed his apex on a curve and shot off the highway down the embankment). They weren’t in a hurry. His head was swinging like his neck was made out of rubber bands… poor guy died on impact. He was wearing a full-on race suit that still looked brand new, and they were carrying his helmet up which also didn’t look too bad. A few scrapes, but it looked like he should have walked away… but he didn’t.
Have two other friends. One wiped out a brand new Ninja 636 within the first five miles. Never rode again.
The other has been down eighth times. He was unconscious in the hospital for days after one of them. He still rides.
Long story short, you can mitigate risk, but not negate it and motorcycles aren’t for everyone. Hell, I’m a fairly safe rider and I’ve been down (had the asphalt break loose under my rear tire at a full lean at over 75mph on the highway…) and got hit by a car (kid didn’t look, just whipped into my lane… picked up some permanent damage from that one). Gear saved me from MUCH worse.
In recent years, I’ve become more conscious about motorcycle safety where gear is concerned, and the first thing I did was upgrade to better helmets. The second thing was to buy warm and cool weather jackets with armor in them.
You can get helmets that are just as high rated for safety for an extremely low price. The main difference is comfort.
If people have the money, I’d push for more gear throughout the body rather than 1 piece of expensive gear.
have you upgraded to the airbag jacket? is your helmet hiviz? is your jacket hiviz?
Yeah, me too. About 5 minutes after my first motorcycle 45 years ago.
@@genxray951 Hiviz doesn't help it has been proven already. If someone can't see your motorcycle itself then they definitely won't see you. Better to spend the money on bigger Auxiliary lights.
@@Waldo1122 Proven where, exactly? Most outdoor industries insist on hi-vis gear to some extent, and I can pretty confidently state that they're not all wrong.
I have always worn a helmet and had no plans to stop, but my first accident really cemented my reasons for wearing one. I was following a bit too closely behind a utility truck when some pipes they had in the back bounced out, one bounced up, hit the front of my bike and sent me flying over the handlebars. I landed what would have been face first had I not been wearing a full face helmet. The helmet actually had a crack on the jaw portion of it and had a missing chunk out of it. That would have been my jaw had I not been wearing it. That helmet saved me from potentially needing reconstructive surgery on my jaw or even permanent disfigurement.
Similar story here with a trash can at 60 lol thank God I had a new shoei as the truck behind me said I was sliding on my face for about 20 feet with my feet in the air! End of the day trashed a bike, $500 helmet and a collar bone (required surgery) but never lost consciousness and was up and walking ... once I stopped sliding lol
Same for me. So thankful that I was wearing my full face helmet the day of my accident. Otherwise my jaw would still be sitting on the street. Shark Evo One 2 helmet did the job it was supposed to do.
It's been 30+ years now, but I went over the bars of my bike at 40 miles an hour. The back of my helmet bounced and had a 6-inch long, inch wide gouge out of it. It was down to the internal foam layer. I can only imagine what my skull would have looked like without that helmet. It just seems silly to me to not wear one.
I had a very similar accident, going over the handlebars landing chin first. In a country where many get the cheapest helmet available, just to obly by the partially enforced laws, I since am an advocate not only for wearing a helmet, but for it to be of good quality, since that is what saved my face during the impact.
My father (lifelong biker-rode the four-corners in less than 30-days) told me: "Son, it's not a matter of 'if,' it's 'when' you go down." I finally went down at 50-years-old and decelerating from 50 mph. My chin was the first point of impact - thank God I was wearing my Scorpion full-face helmet.
80% of my crashes my head always is the first point of impact it happens in a split of a second ppl thinking they have the time to let go the bike and protect their heads with their hands/arms are delusional.
Whenever I see a rider with no helmets (which is rare over here) I stop and try to encourage them to never go out without one not only cos of their safety but they also risk to lose their bike as cops over here will take it away from u on the spot if they find u with no helmets.
Wearing a helmet should be mandatory world wide pisses me off the argument of "rights to choose" when the only choice they should have is "want to ride? helmet, don't want to use the helmet? don't ride." that's the only choosing that should be in place.
That's interesting, I hear this frequently. Fortunately I have only been down 3 times and every time my hands were the first point of contact.
@@REF0202 depends the nature of your "crash" if u slip at a very low speeds could be u reflex to instant let go and try to land with ur hands but I would say 80 to 90% of times u wont have the times to react and even IF u do land with ur hands ur head is next to fallow most of the time cos the space awareness when you have your (full face) helmet on changes plus the inertia and gravity and all that crap... u can prob watch some crashing testing videos if u want more reference in the matter.
Like I said I can share my own personal experiences with my own crashes and my helmet always touched either the car or the asphalt (some times both lol) is not like I'm talking out of my ass hahaha.
Ride safe, cheers!
@G SD and how about all the resources that goes into that person life when it suffers a head injury due to an accident? or worst, dies? u know ppl dont just "die" and that's it, there's a lot of graving, money, and s#!t that happens as consequence of it.
If u were in a desert or forest or whatever all alone on ur own and u affect no1 else with what u do then sure go right ahead and live however u want but is not so simple when that's not the case and having a crash with ur bike suddenly affects a bunch of other people in a chain reaction.
I hope you understand my point of view even if it comes across as "overreacting" but still I'm glad that where I live is mandatory to wear a helmet.
I had my first wreck a couple months ago. My helmet was smashed and scraped up and my jacket was shredded. But once I regained consciousness, I walked myself back over to the side of the road and just hung out with the guy who called 911 for me until the ambulance arrived. I felt perfectly fine though! Fearing head/neck injuries though, they rushed me straight past the waiting room which I felt so bad for! I could just hear that it was full of people who were suffering far worse and far longer than I had been... Luckily, I got my scans and was A-OK and walked out just over an hour later.
But opting to ride without gear, where in an accident, you're basically guaranteed to have severe injuries is what seems selfish to me. Because when your head is smashed in and all your skin is ripped off, you're now tying up so many more doctors, nurses, resources, etc from those who *were* making an attempt to reduce their risk.
I appreciate "muh freedum!!" to not wear a helmet/safety gear, but when it really matters, it DOES effect others.
That's a great point that I didn't consider. Glad you're okay!
This would make sense in a country where healthcare is publicly funded but not in the us
@@petar7867 You missed the point, a gearless rider zooming to the head of the triage absolutely affects everyone else in the waiting room regardless of how healthcare is funded.
@@petar7867 It's funded by insurance that geared riders and non-riders have to pay. You might have a point if you paid a substantial premium for riding without a helmet, but even then you're tying-up finite medical resources.
@@james_chatman You don't really want to go down the road of determining who should get priority treatment or not based on value judgments alone... Do you?
I personally don't care what other people do. It's been my experience that people that ride without gear have never been down and have no idea what pavement will do to you as 60 mph. I can't ride without a helmet because I find it extremely uncomfortable but if others want to leave their brains on the curb, have at it. (edit to add) Jen is excellent at this.
Except every body else pays for their I’ll informed freedoms, road trauma cost the community millions a week.
@@Paul-kp1tu but the question is, how much freedom should be lost so the public can save money? Where’s the cut off?
As a young rider waaaaaay back in the day I hated wearing a helmet so I didn't wear one. As I got older and wiser I started wearing one. It's just common sense. A friend of mine is a police officer he said to me one day if you have seen what I have seen at motorcycle crashes you would never go without a helmet on. He is also a motorcycle rider and never gets on without putting a helmet on.
I find it very impressive how some riders have the confidence to ride without a helmet. You wont catch me without one even if it were illegal to use one
No brain, no pain.
Well here in Germany, helmet is compulsory but suits only in the licence schools. But experts and experienced riders oftenly recommend to wear it any time driving.
Apparently I hit a deer passing a slower vehicle on interstate between Spearfish and Wyoming state line. Woke up after three weeks in the hospital without helmet. The financial part is also another reason I will from now on wear a helmet. Everything has healed except my brain is not as good as it was. Frustrating, but I'm alive.
That sounds like a horrific experience, I'm happy you're still with us.
I knew a guy had the same thing happen (hitting a deer with no helmet) with the same results. Also his wife broke her arm in 3 places.
Thanks. Still don't remember any of it. After walking around on my floor a nurse asked if I thought I would be ok with myself. Got 3/4 of the way and 5 nurses had their thumbs up! Teared me up. But I find humor, thank God.
My grandfather hit a deer on his bike at 55mph. Was wearing a helmet. Was just as messed up as you. Cool story though. Like the girl says.....riding is a risk.
@@iamtheoffenderofall Helmets REDUCE RISK OF HEAD INJURY. They don't prevent all head injuries. If your grandfather had similar injuries wearing a helmet, it's possible his outcome could have actually been even worse had he not had a helmet. That's what the actual outcomes of helmeted vs non-helmeted accidents indicate...
I believe wearing a helmet has saved my life twice so, I wear one. There were some insurance companies that offered lower insurance rates to people that wore helmets. If you said you did and were in an accident without a helmet, they didn't pay. What happened to that? I want that!
They offer the discount because they know that people that are willing to wear helmets where helmets are not mandated are more likely to OBEY all other laws, particularly speed limits which is the greatest predictor of "accidents". In fact these same people are more likely to self police, resulting in fewer claims and greater PROFITS for the insurance company.
Insurance companies, like Big Daddy Government love sheep.
In my country if you get in an accident and you weren't wearing a helmet, most insurance companies will fight you over paying out for any injuries suffered that could have been prevented.
@@fermitupoupon1754 You live in a more advanced country than the US with citizens that are expected to take responsibility for themselves and they do. The US is really good at rewarding bad behavior.
@@jerrym3261 No, insurers can totally do this in the U.S, but it's up to them whether it's worth it. It may just not be worthwhile ascertaining that at an accident they did not attend, you were not wearing a helmet when you went down, when the cost of contesting that fact may be higher than the cost of covering the incident.
@@microcolonel I used to see them advertise they offered that insurance. I saw that they were getting pushback on the legality of writing that insurance. I think, not sure, the AMA was in on that. It bugged me in the 70s that I had to join to race AMA sanctioned races when they were using dues money to fight helmet laws so, maybe a carryover from that. Anyway, I haven't seen an insurer saying they had special rates for helmet wearers in years. At my age my insurance is $100 a year for 2 bikes so, I don't shop much.
I've been riding for over 50 years. A helmet has saved my life twice, as well parts of my head at least that many times. That said, I believe in people's right to be stupid and ride without a helmet. Just don't send me the bill for their foolishness through taxation.
I've been riding since the 70's and I am always ATGATT. Sometimes though, when it's really hot out, I momentarily consider riding without protection. Then I stroll out to the sidewalk in front of my house, kneel down and slam my forehead into the pavement a few times and then rub my forehead back and forth till I imbed some gravel. Then I go back in and put my gear on and load a couple more bottles of Gatoraid in my bags.
I would rather sweat than bleed any day. 😊
I am 64 and have been riding two wheeled vehicles my entire life. While I have yet to need my motorcycle helmets, I keep a very destroyed bicycle helmet on display as a reminder of what my head would have endured had I not been wearing it. Always wear a helmet, they save lives.
You contradict yourself?
@@CanadianTexaninLiguria She destroyed a bicycle helmet. Not a motorcycle helmet.
@@rider65 is not very bright.
@@rider65 If it destroyed a bicycle helmet at bicycle speeds, it shows why you should wear one on a motorcycle traveling potentially at multiples of that speed.
@jessherbst810 So, what type of riding were you engaged in to come out with "a very destroyed bicycle helmet"? Point being, like bicycle helmets, motorcycle helmets and "full riding gear" give riders a false sense of security prompting many to ride to their and their machine's limits, periodically resulting in disastrous consequences for man and machine. If you knew that you had no protection beyond your ability to control your ride and anticipate the actions of others would you not ride accordingly and avoid taking unnecessary risks?
On a trip once I made my way into Ohio for a stretch and decided to strap my helmet to the sissy bar and away I went. It was fun, but when I got back into West Virginia, I realized I was beat to death….in a related note…I highsided once and came off the bike….yes there was head injury, but not much since I had a helmet on! In fact I had a whole riding suit on so no blood was lost….but I did break my back. Still riding though!
When I was a younger rider, a helmet saved my life. I kept it as a reminder for several years (never wore it again, obviously) - it was smashed completely in on the back and left side, dented and scraped - but my head was absolutely fine. Even if I'm taking my bike around the block to test something I did to the bike, I may not wear my jacket and pants and gloves; but I sure as hell always wear my helmet.
Wow! She's smart, articulate and a good presenter. Something missing from a lot of online presenters. Good find RevZilla and please have her do more videos.
I live in Utah so I can go without a helmet if I want to. I don't go without a helmet. A Shoei helmet saved my life one time. No question about that. + It's just more comfortable to me. Particulate coming off semi trucks in my face, bugs, cold, noise etc etc. are mitigated by my current HJC hat. But I do like it that I still have a choice here. I see a lot of riders without helmets and when it's either really cold or really hot I have to wonder what they're on about. Proving how tough they are? OK you be you I guess. Not for me.
I'm currently rockin' a HJC rapha flip up lid and it's great - being able to open up the helmet at traffic stops or during stop n' go during summer is wonderful. No downside to wearing a helmet as far as I'm concerned...
@@jokermtb totally agree!
Seems the 'tough guy image' is a primary motivator for some riders. They'll buy a Hardly Ableson, then pose at the bars in their bad boy leathers. A first year Psych 101 student can read like an open book how they're 'over-compensating'...
@@garymaclean6903 It's always seemed ironic that the image of the "Marlon Brando rebel without a cause" mystique that envelops the die-hard cruiser chopper bike scene (and even casual hobbyist dabblers on Tuesday night bike nights at the local pub), they all seem to dress as if they're on the same sports team (or pirate ship) - it's very conformist when one thinks about it.
Great video Jen. I live in a no law state but still wear all my gear for every ride. You know, out of courtesy for the folks that would have to clean up after a crash.
Seeing as I've been in an accident and got a concussion WITH the helmet, I'm extremely glad I don't have to live with what could've happened if I hadn't had one on.
As a medic on an ambulance in the Netherlands for me its just unbelievable that helmets are not obliged in the us. But we also don't understand the gun laws in the us, it's just an other world with other ways of thinking
Freedom! Our guns keep it that way. Hopefully you people don't elect someone like Hitler. What would you do to stop them?
Watching from Europe as well, still in shock they don't have universal helmet laws.... Wow.....
@@cheeseballs3825 you meen like trump? 😂😂
Because bikers here in the good USA are politically active in their respective states and on occasions on the federal level. It's called grass roots lobbying and it's very effective.
I like less wind noise and listening to my music. So I wear one.
Here in Germany it is mandatory by law to wear helmets since 1976. It was a big controversy back then, same as with seatbelts in cars. But today no one is complaining about it and it made life on a motorcycle way safer. Its even a rare occurance to see a biker without at least minmal safety gear, like proper boots, gloves, pants and jacket. Only in the rural party of Germany there are a few who ride without helmets and they mostly ride Mofas like a 50cc Hercules or Scooter witch only go around 45kph.
Overreaching. Now you guys have to dress up like a safety cone for some mundane tasks.
@@stubbingtonmarigold3032 No, just a Helmet and some underwear to not be nude. But most riders prefer to stay unharmed or alive if all goes to shit.
Where I live (Michigan) one must wear a seatbelt when driving a car, but no helmet required for riding a moto. Seems rather inconsistent - is the State interested in safety or isn't it? Why not ditch seatbelt requirements too, as to align with the helmet use regulations (or lack thereof)
@@jokermtb Yeah it dosent make much sense. The seatbelt rule was enforced to increase safty. So why not enforce wearing a helmet? There are many studies and examples and test, wich all concluedet to helmets being a major safety increase.
@@jokermtb I think the reason is because cars come standard with seatbelts and air bags. And if you don't wear your seatbelt, you will hear an annoying reminder notification in your car. But yeah, it doesn't make any sense. If anything, bikers need even more protection, not less. You can survive a slow speed crash in a car without seat belts. But probably won't survive the same crash on a motorcycle without a helmet. It often times is also political. Insurance companies place pressure on politicians to enact certain safety measures.
This was so well done and I love it. Hope to see more soon!
Natural selection in modern times. I see the reason for a no helmet law, but in that case there should be a mandatory "course" where riders have to watch a video about head injuries to make sure they understand the consequences and they can make a well informed decision. Also I guess insurance companies won't give a discount for not wearing helmet whatever freedom people have.
Where I live only helmet is mandatory, I chose to wear a full gear all the time. And it isn't because I don't trust myself riding safe, I don't trust others look out for me.
Watching from Canada, the USA is a mystery to me. Thanks Jen, for the interesting look into US helmet laws and history.
We Americans love our Freedumbs!
I think it's safe to say that it's a mystery to us as well.
Their govt doesn’t pay their medical bills, if they did all states would have helmet laws.
Well. Canada is a Socialist nanny state so..........and before anyone starts whining, I do in fact wear a full face helmet and gear every time I get on a motorcycle.
As an Australian I agree. There a many things that just stubbornly seem to me a mostly us only problem due to absolute silly things that don't seem to affect affect the rest of the world much (hint hint the freedom premise is something that most countries already have).... Mandatory helmet laws, government mandated helmet standards better than dot (not from a private foundation like snell), mass shootings, adoption of the metric system. The list goes on about issues that are uniquely American
Yeah, when I started out and crashed (centre stand dug in and effectively highsided me) I landed on my face and slid down the street on a bitumen road with coarse embedded gravel before headbutting the curb. Practically ground the chin bar off. Haven't even considered an open face helmet after that, let alone no helmet.
I live in PA, a state that had a helmet and then repealed it many years ago (2003). Interestingly, a study done five years later, found virtually no change in the number of riders wearing helmets before and after the repeal: “Based on the latest PennDOT data, 57.4 percent of the 4,716 motorcyclists involved in a crash in 2007 were wearing a helmet. Over the full four- year period since repeal of the Helmet Law, 55.7 percent of the motorcyclists involved in a reported crash were wearing a helmet.” Furthermore, there was virtually no change in the motorcycle fatality RATE (this is important) after the repeal: “According to PennDOT crash records, an all-time high of 225 individuals lost their lives in motorcycle crashes in 2007. Overall, the average annual number of fatalities has increased from 139 in the three years prior to repeal (2000-2002) to 194 in the four years after repeal (2004-2007). However, when the number of registered motorcycles is taken into consideration, the average annual fatality rate for the four years after repeal of the Helmet Law is virtually identical to the average annual fatality rate for the three years prior to repeal. During both periods, the motorcyclist fatality rate was 5.9 fatalities per 10,000 registered motorcycles.”
I suspect the statistics presented in this video are absolute numbers of fatalities, not fatality rates. Of course the numbers increased dramatically, as they did in PA which had a 40% increase in total fatalities, due to a lot more registrations of bikes which generally means a lot more riders and often new and inexperienced riders. However, to get a fair comparison you have to be sure to look at fatality RATES. Did you look at rates for this video?
I'm a bit lax when it comes to lower body wear, but I feel so uneasy trying to ride without gloves/heavy jacket, let alone a helmet!
Personally, my life was saved by wearing a helmet and I wear one at all times when on a motorcycle. .
I live in a country with mandatory helmet law while operating a motorcycle but think is should be a personal choice.
The risk of more severe injury is obvious, but riding without a helmet can feel great on a sunny day.
Even on my downhill mountain bike 20 yrs ago - a full face helmet saved me from extensive dental repair.
Are you happy paying more Insurance premium for other people personal freedom?
Yes, I’m American, my motorcycle is a completely optional expense. If you are worried about insurance rates, ride the bus.
@Paul B No Lycra and racing bike do that. You really think normal commuter that riding 20 years old single speed Dutch bike try to become tour the France racing once they use helmet ? People with 50cc scooter will not trying to become Rossi just because they wear helmet, they just try to go from point A to point B as cheap as possible, otherwise they will buy hayabusa.
@@stubbingtonmarigold3032 has the intellect and moral capacity of a toddler.
I wear my helmet 99.5% of the time.
But once in a while it is fun to take a mellow ride up a quiet road with no helmet.
There are times when you want to go without- and it’s just like riding- it’s a calculated risk - and everyone has a different Threshold
I don't know how people can ride without one. I'm constantly cleaning bug guts off of it and over time it's become full of rock chips. That all would have hit my face.
@@trsskater seriously I would be so unhappy without a helmet
I am 100% with Alex. That’s me too
I admit that in the past I would do my round-the-block post mechanical shakedown without a a helmet or gear which while feeling good was the the absolute worst time to not wear a helmet. Needless to say I stopped doing that. ATHATT now lol.
Really liking Jen's presentation! - And solid breakdown - similar to Fortnine
In 1975 I rode from Huntington Beach Ca. To Paso Robles Ca.[260 miles]No helmet, summer 100 deg f. On the way back, I pulled over and nearly went in to heat stroke. I was cooking my brain! A helmet helps protects from impact,sliding, heat and cold .
When state helmet laws are repealed, Darwin's law kicks in.
You could argue choosing a motorcycle at all is an act of Darwinism.
@@rider65 They are responsible for their own fate.Stupid people win stupid prizes. I don't require a law to know I need a helmet. But yes, I agree, they become a burden on society so every state should intact laws for the greater good. But that is not likely to happen.
@@spaceracer23 Can't argue with that. Darwin and Murphy are a rider's copilots. You can't take risk completely out of life, otherwise life is dull. So sensible people take steps to reduce the risk.
@@RobinsVoyage What is not true? Darwin and Murphy are *not* rider's copilots? You *can* take the risk completely out of life? Or sensible people *cannot* take steps to reduce the risk?
@@RobinsVoyage I had two accedent due to unexpected bad weather where if I had not had a helmet on I would not be chatting with you 😀
Having an adventure bike I actually find a helmet much more comfortable anyways. More wind block, debris blocking, drop down visor for when the sun pops out, and you can put a cardo in and have your directions and music and talk to other riders. All of this is things besides safety. I live in Nebraska so I have to but even across state lines I always wear a helmet
Yes, I totally agree. Every time my visor is up I get bugs in my eyes. Visor down, vent open.
so much quieter too....
I started riding about 20 years ago. The very first time I ever rode on an interstate, a truck in front of me kicked up a golfball-sized rock at 70 and it struck my chinbar hard enough to blast a chunk out. It would have been my throat if not for my full face. I’ll never ride without one.
@@JCintheBCC wow! I'm glad you had it on and were okay! Safety is absolutely #1 reason to wear a helmet I was trying to come up with even more. Thank you for sharing your story.
I like these little episodes of history and discussions. Production quality of this video kind of reminds me of Great Big Story
Where I live not only is it mandatory to wear a helmet, it also must currently be ECE 22.05 rated, and new helmets must be ECE 22.06 rated from July 2023. We've gone from around 14 deaths per 10,000 riders in 1980 to 3.4 in 2010 & have continued a downward trend since then.
Mainly beacuse it's harder, more expensive and less popular to ride, but I am sure helmets also help.
@@nobodynoone2500 Actually, it's quite the opposite. There's been a steady increase in the number of registered motorcycles year on year for decades. The number of registered motorcycles has tripled between 1992 & 2022. It's pretty easy for new riders to get a license too, and costs less than most entry level motorcycle helmets.
Great job with the video Jen!
Single vehicle accident, I rode over some wet lane dividing cats eyes on the road, lost rear traction and woke up in the hospital with some minor road rash and a broken collar bone. My helmet more than likely saved my life. I'm not strict ATGATT, but I always wear my helmet.
We have a universal helmet law here, and I haven't really thought that it was a bit overreaching. I will wear a helmet even without the law, only that's because my older and much wiser peers advise me to wear one. That's off of their decades of collective experience on the motorcycle. One thing they took a long time to adapt were other forms of safety gear like jackers, pants, and boots. All of which they highly recommend I wear when I'm on the bike.
What's your opinion on requiring locked car doors for all?
I'm totally shocked that RevZilla took on this very divisive topic. This action shows them to be courageous; I'll be buying more gear from them shortly. 🙂 Thank you!
Whike it may be divisive, the number of people who are working to prevent helment laws are very few. But they are covered in the news as if there are lots of them.
Mission accomplished for Revzilla right? You are what they call the all day sucker.
@Jen "Jrod" Dunstan Thank you for all you do. This is great! 🤩
They sell helmets.....
@@unsafe_at_any_speed lots of em. I bet it is their single biggest product.
Jen; this was SO FRICKIN COOL??? It was like an entire little documentary; great work Revzilla team! What a treat! What a unique video for your channel!
You're easily impressed.... aren't you...?
I know for a fact that a helmet has saved my life, while riding my bicycle to work I got a huge wire caught in my front wheel, and I went over the handle bars at 20ish mph. When I felt the weight shifting forwards I tucked my chin down towards my chest to complete the flip, but my head still hit the pavement hard. The Specialized brand helmet was cracked in half, and I suffered from a twisted ankle and not a broken head. For me wearing a helmet is the most important gear, and I never ride without one.
u seriously reached 20mph with a BICYCLE? were u riding down a mountain full speed? lol anyway glad u safe!
@@GatsuRage down a hill my fastest is over 60 mph, on a flat road I once got up to about 40mph, in group rides without wind speeds on bicycles is about 25 mph… I was much younger then too
This was a really well done video. Thanks Revzilla! Also makes me wonder where there is an active helmet debate outside the US.
People outside of the United States tend to obey their civil masters, or take a passive aggressive response if they disagree. This also holds true for motorcycles, but remember that in the rest of the world, people don't particularly ride for the freedom, the bike is simply transportation.
I've woken up in hospital before, shoei saved my life.
I love my Sedici Strada 2 orange animalistic ..... super comfortable helmet and decently priced. Although I had to get the orange visor to go with it, the clear one is for night riding only
if you use the clear you can wear sunglasses underneath, then you don't have to carry two visors. but the tinted visor does look cooler.
I’d wear a helmet regardless if my state (California) allowed no helmets required. Sure it’s hot and sweaty during the summer but it’s better option than taking asphalt temperature challenge with broken skull.
Yeah, helmets can be hot but...I would rather sweat than bleed any day!
Wow, the production of the videos is insane. Revzilla stepping up the game, gave me Vox-like vibes, which is a great thing!
I have lived in states that leave it up to the rider since I started riding but have always chose to wear full face helmets. My choice and if it were mandatory or not my choice wouldn't change. And I don't mind there being a choice, in fact, it probably helps with natural selection in human evolution 🤣
I'd be curious to know how insurance companies have played a part in DOT Helmet laws as well... According to another article I read, in trying to get California to give up their helmet law, the insurance companies said that their premiums for all licensed drivers in the state would go up, forcing the law to stay in place.
In michigan, any motorcyclist or passenger who rides un-helmeted has to carry a $20k insurance policy on top of whatever they carry, for emergency medical treatment - most don't carry this required insurance as police never check for it. Taxpayers usually pick up the dime for these un-helmeted injuries here in michigan (as they've capped the max payout for insurance claims for motorcycle injuries)
Absolutely, that is how insurance works. Where there's higher risk of loss and subsequent insurance payouts rates will be higher for everyone to cover those costs.
@@jokermtb Yeah that's a perfect example of half a good still being a bad idea.
@@jokermtb In New York State, we have "No fault" so that when we're both in our cars/trucks then your insurance takes care of you & my insurance takes care of me. However this law doesn't apply to motorcyclists! If I'm on my bike and you hit me in your car -it's your fault, now your insurance is going to take care of me... except you've probably like 75% of the drivers out there with the bare minimum required by law = $25K per person, $50K per accident. I just got a life-flight to the nearest trauma center (because there's not one here in my area) and that's about $20+K right there!! Sure I could sue, but chances are that -even if I get the judgement years later -you're not going to have the $$ to pay. Many Bikers here don't know to get un-insured, under-insured coverage that only adds a few dollars to their premium, but can save them a sh*t ton of time & energy later!!
@@IrishBOBSister same here in Michigan too! Most have no idea their typical insurance doesn't cover anything motorcycle related.....
I live in NH. The 'Live free or Die' state. As far as I know we have never had a helmet law. I also work in EMS and have seen enough fatalities that could have been prevented if they had worn a helmet. I wear mine religiously as do other members of the FD. 20mph crash with a head strike on a curb is all it takes to end a life. (true story)
I love the NH riders as they pull over on the MA line to put on helmets and when they return to stop in NH to take them off.
@@StrawDragon
More often is the MA riders stopping at the border to take their off.
@@StrawDragon I live on the VT border and Vermonters stop right at the line to remove the helmets.
Digging this format. More please.
I’ve been riding almost 50 years. I always wear a helmet. Always!
Several people here have made arguments about the burden on society for people who crash without a helmet. These are valid arguments.
However.
I wonder about other high-risk activities. Mountain climbing, paragliding, surfing etc., etc.
How much should tax-payers be liable for if these people are injured or need rescue?
Curious to hear others’ thoughts on this.
Great neutral stance on the facts. Loved the video!
My first bike was a chopper so i wouldn't wear one. My second bike was a cafe racer. When I went down somewhere between 40-60 mph if wasn't wearing a brain bucket i wouldn't be here or i would be a veggie. The side of my head slammed hard. Always a leather jacket and I also wear leather chaps. My knee hit fairly hard barely scuffing them but inside my jeans and skin was tore from impact. Probably would of been worse without them. Thankfully i also wear gloves!! I hardly wear them for anything but on a bike it's mandatory. Boots should be highly considered as well. my shoe came off without injury but it could of been worse. I have a friend that wore sandals on his rocket and i assure you that did not end well!! Ride safe not stupid you aint gonna look cool with a wicked road rash or droolin on yourself in wheelchair because you were too cool to put a bucket on your bobber!!
Yes to the boots. It's so bad where I live that they show pictures of injuries people got from riding with flip-flops on, including a bifurcated foot (scooter, so no shifting).
I really think that helmet laws and filtering should go hand in hand. Freedom doesn't preclude responsibility.
@@shadowmancy9183 Filtering?
I wear a full face helmet to protect my brain, face, and teeth. I've had enough expensive dental work.
Thanks for the quality video.
I think you need to revisit your maps of full law states as you show NH being full law in every map? Or please explain what I’m missing.
As far as laws go, it’s frustrating that we need a law for people to choose to be safe. I personally side with eliminating the opportunity for the state to dictate people’s actions, while also doing our best to educate folks on why they should CHOOSE to wear appropriate gear.
In my state where helmets are not compulsory, I regularly see out of state riders with their helmet strapped to the back of their bike or protecting their elbow. I personally don’t understand this decision, but feel compelled to fight for people to make their own choices.
It’s a tough one.
Love the documentary style. I live in a country with mandatory helmet laws and believe they should be, because some people just don’t have any common sense.
Again I live in a country and state that allows lane filtering, I’m interested to understand way most US states prohibit this riding skill.
Re: lane filtering.
I would say that most states have prohibited it, due to the potential for increased accidents.
I understand both sides of the argument, but if a filtering law were passed, I'm not sure that I would do it. I have an old police bike, which--if you pardon my sailor-speak--has a pretty wide beam with the fairing, saddlebags and crash bars. I would hate to misjudge the gap or (even worse) have a vehicle decide to "pinch down" to teach me a lesson.
I've made it this far in life without lane filtering (I'm nearly 53), I can wait a few minutes more to get where I'm going.
@@moosecat …. I’m also 53, lane filtering is all about risk mitigation, I don’t ride fast and I have a narrow supersport so basically I will always have room.
Biking is about be individual and riding to your skill level, filtering is no more dangerous than crossing a busy road, you check and make sure you have the space and time. Safe riding !!!
So people shouldn’t have ownership of their lives? Other people own me? This is what you’re implying
Lived in Illinois with absolutely no helmet laws. Saw plenty of people ride without helmets. I wore a Full face all the time, even to just pump gas around the corner.
Moved to California and there was one guy riding without a helmet and all the Californias were shocked lol.
It blows my mind that California lead the way toward freedom back in the 60’s. What happened??!!!
Same deal, but backwards. I learned how to ride in Cali and my mind was blown after I moved back to Illinois. I hardly see other riders with a lid out here.
@@bt7843 Hurt Report
I believe it should be a personal choice. However, I think it’s only smart to wear protective gear. When I was younger I had a low speed crash without a helmet and suffered deep lacerations and a concussion. A few years later a motorist cut directly in front of me and my helmeted head hit both the roof and the ground. I have no doubt it saved my life.
In all the (considerable) times I’ve hit my head on the ground dirt biking and mountain biking, never once has it occurred to me that it would have been ok if I wasn’t wearing a helmet.
My feeling about it is that you only get one head but you can always buy a new helmet. In my 20 years of riding I've spent about two grand on helmets which is by far cheaper than any head related injury. So many of them look really cool too. The "my choice' argument is all good until the rest of us are contributing to your disability check through our taxes because you wrecked out and got a preventable injury by not wearing a helmet. Not to mention the burden that family and friends have to put up with because you were stubborn.
my point exactly - the taxpayers are subsidizing brain damaged permanent disability non-helmet riders......forever.
Because the government forces us to pay into a system they get to decide the level of risks we take in our lives? Where does it stop? Also seems like a good reason to end the federal ponzi scheme we call social security.
The possible burden on families is up to each rider to decide.
@@agisler87 well said. I prefer freedom over forced taxation for government subsidy programs. The problem with disability payments isn't the rider. The problem is the government.
Not to mention the trauma someone puts on others by having them see brains everywhere on their way to school for example
I'm ok if people want to make poor choices. I also think it would be fair to allow the insurance companies not to cover you for anything if you choose not to use a helmet.
There were some insurance companies that gave lower rates if you wore helmets. I don't think they are allowed to do that anymore.
@@jerrym3261 Well that the problem. everyone wants their freedom, but they don't want to pay for that freedom .
@@anubizz3 But the way it is now everybody that has insurance pays for their freedom.
@@rider65 Eating fast food ain't going to crack your skull open. Crashing without helmet will.
@@rider65 Thats a valid point but not in the way you want.
Since Insurance is fundamentally a risk mitigation service. It makes sense to have insurance providers charge people more, if those people make the conscious decision to increase the financial risk of covering them.
Choose to smoke, be obese, drink heavily, or other very obvious choices that are huge health risks...you are free to do so, but you also should pay for that.
Professional journalism is refreshing 👌
Beautiful narrative!
My only problem allowing riders to go helmetless is insurance. If someone has an accident with a rider that could make the difference between minor injuries and death or a lifelong disability. He rider can now sue the other person for mega money for something that he chose. The helmetless crowd is always saying it's on them what they decide to do and it only affects them, but that's not true bc they will sue you for everything you have if they end up disabled for life.
'has an accident' you missed out 'is at fault and....'
Searched for this response. I'm curious about insurance rates for uninsured motorcyclists who choose not to wear a helmet. Are they charged higher?
@@rodneyhull9764 True even with taking the assumption the car driver is at fault so the rider can sue the only people getting screwed if the squid rider survives the accident to be able to sue is the insurance company and they always deserve to get screwed. Even if the rider wasn’t a squid the car driver would have to pay the same deductible only the costs the insurance company has to pay would increase.
Not only that, not sure about you but in Australia we need to pay Compulsory Third Party to cover any injury during incident. of cause if you want your freedom not wearing seat belt and helmet you should the only one need to pay for extra risk, not all the people?
@@anubizz3 compulsory third party? Reeeeeeeee communism! We have the same in Canada btw
I really enjoyed this video. It was an excellent video covering a topic with the facts and not leaning things one way or another. Facts help everyone decide what they value.
I personally do not like being told what to do by any government. I accept guidance such as your report here. Because of the inherent risk of riding I choose to wear the best gear and helmet I can afford. I am careful riding and not a speed freak. I do not judge others who choose differently. I just want to enjoy the ride and come home safe. I also have lots of lights and a very loud horn. Those help too.
I plan to watch more of your videos. I like your approach.
This is how it’s done. Show the facts, without personal bias, and let people make up their own decision. I collect helmets, so I love wearing them. I grew up riding motocross so I understand the importance of wearing a helmet. But, I’m not going to tell anyone that they have to wear one, it’s their choice. Great video.
Wearing a full face helmet helps me stay more alert for longer, less tiring wind noise. It's just more comfortable for me.
I learned to ride in Illinois and I have very vivid memories of seeing these boomers on Harleys doing like 100 down the highway with nothing but a pair of sunglasses, unbelievable. I rode a few times without a helmet and it was very uncomfortable, between the bugs smashing into my head and my eyes drying out even with sunglasses on (and worrying about them falling off when I turned my head) I never rode again without a helmet
Weren't they wearing the Harley Ballistic Bandana?
I would be sorely tempted to (legally) ride one mile without a helmet, just to say I've done it.
Like most laws. The law is only there because people can't take responsibility for their actions.
eh?
Like most laws, it is only written to protect idiots who don't follow basic safety precautions. It has nothing to do with people avoiding responsibility.
Yes , I grew up in a state the required helmets and had to replace one in a crash , I walked a way , but helmet had to be replace, Now I live is state that does not require a helmet but for sure I do and I share my store to all who ask me why I wear mine , thanks for article!
I can say that back in 2008, a helmet probably saved me from a traumatic brain injury. I got hit by someone who claimed they just never saw me. I landed hard, flat on my back, on asphalt. I hate to think what might of happened if my skull, with no helmet, got whipped onto the roadway, when I landed. Instead, I walked away with a sprained ankle in the end.
Also, I get chips in my face shield, every year, from road debris. I hate to think of that stuff hitting my bare skin or eyes.
Let people do what they want. For me. I'm wearing a helmet.
I just got home from Daytona for bike week. Not a lot of helmet wearing….I always have and will. And I always recommend you do too.
beautifully produced video.
I would argue that not wearing helmets does affect others. It affects "others" financially. If I am not wearing a helmet and am in a crash that is not my fault, the damages will probably be higher which would result in a higher settlement. Higher settlements from accidents such as these will result in higher insurance rates across the board.
Agree 100%. The problem is that most people put their moronic personal ideals ahead of any concept that would be good for society as a whole. Very selfish.
I agree 100%. I think we should stop all behaviors that cost society more as a whole. Why stop at helmets? Banning fast food and mandatory exercise would save us a whole lot more than a couple more people wearing helmets.
So you work out everyday, eat right and take no chances? Otherwise you affect me and my health insurance rates. Better yet you have DNA test done so if you are predisposed to some illness I dont pay for it? Quit it.
@@massimocredenza5697 We should also outlaw sex outside of marraige because fatherless homes costs billions in welfare. Just kidding, but where does it stop. I live where no helmet law exists but I choose to wear mine 95% of the time. If someone chooses to not wear a helmet they should loose the right to sue for head injuries in the event of an accident. We don't need more laws but we need a hell of a lot more personal accountability without safety nets for foolishness.
@@massimocredenza5697 Dont know about you but in my country , your health insurance premium increase if you overweight , heavy smoker, and so on.
I honestly can’t fathom why you wouldn’t want to wear one. It’s like saying “I’m just not feeling like wearing my seatbelt today.” You’re at an exponentially higher risk of serious injury or death if you decide to ride without a helmet. Guess there’s not much of a brain to protect up there.
@@jakeviolet2195 Most people who refuse to wear helmets are just vain. It's usually the Harley riders who ride without helmets because they want to be seen by people.
In addition to passive (crash) safety, I think a good helmet adds to active safety on a bike. In a quality helmet - You can see better, you can hear better, you can think better, and you don’t get as tired/dehydrated/sunburnt/cold…etc. All of this reduces your risk of having a crash in the first place.
I wear a helmet every time I ride or even throw a leg over a bike to go down the driveway. The ground is hard and it doesn’t take much to have a traumatic brain injury. I’m hoping to never have a crash on the street, but I’ve had plenty off-road and Im sure my helmets have saved me many times.
Now can you do one about lane filtering / lane splitting ?
I wear full gear every ride, so when I see people riding without a helmet (which is 90% of people on cruisers) I absolutely cringe. Don’t even get me started on people who ride with no gear at all. Guess they don’t like having skin 🤷🏻♂️
This really is a US thing, as the only developed country without universal healthcare, it's the only one where this argument could happen. Everywhere else, the cost of healthcare is an issue that concerns the government. By not wearing a helmet, riders involved in accidents increases healthcare cost, so making everyone wear one just makes sense.
Been riding since 1972. Always wear a 3/4 helmet at the very least. A few years ago, I bought a modular HJC for winter riding to see if it helped to keep my face warm. It did and rode with it even after the weather warmed up. I still wear my 3/4 helmet sometimes. Helmets have saved my noggin a few times over the past 50 years. Michigan repealed helmet law a few years ago and people are free to choose, which is okay with me.
Perhaps a different attitude towards riding would go further to keeping you safe than a bucket.
Ny life-changing wreck was 5 years ago, SUV tried crossing in front of me. 60mph into the A-pillar, brain damage, dozen surgeries, and half a million in hospital bills. They told me if i had worn a helmet it woildve killed me by snapping my neck. I stead im missing half my teef and part of my cheekbone.
I wear 1 now religiously. But i still think it should b personal choice.
And helmets r an expensive accoutrement if ur unsure that ull like riding. My first bike was a 1981 i bought for $100. And i still have the $100 helmet that was bought for me. Its even worse now than it was 17 years ago. My Racestar is amazing, but $900 plus $400 comms is more than my first bike cost me to get on the road. Including tires.
Safety belts r factory installed. Helmets r not. The more "safety" regulations they make, the more dangerous the (not-actual)drivers become
Let people who don’t want to wear lids have their own insurance rates.
YES!
Agreed! Why should the rest of us be paying for their freedom of choice?
What I've got in my head helps me earn a comfortable living. I don't need to be told to wear a helmet, I choose to wear a helmet. That's the crux of it. Choice.
but the rest of us do not get a "choice" about pulling the plug on you when your brain dead and on life support at the taxpayers cost
Brain pays for motorcycles (ie. fun).
Can't have it be in crutches not being able to pay for another one.
cept for when the taxpayers have to pick up all the medical expenses for those who choose poorly.....
@@jokermtb Paying for bad decisions of other people was what you voted for when you voted for communist healthcare.
2 quick stories:
Back in the 80's, riding with a full face helmet and full windshield. Following too close to a truck, kicked up a rock the size of a golf ball. Deflected off the windshield, and was embedded in the helmet at my forehead.
Approx 10 years ago, shopping with my wife looking at new helmets. Asked her which one I should get. She said "How much is your brain worth?"
A $1000 helmet is not necessarily any safer than a $200 helmet.
@@ntdscherer true
@@ntdscherer $1k helmet often gives just the same crash protection as $200 one.
They usually has better ventilation, less circulated CO2 (not a real problem), you sweat less and be more comfortable. Safer.
But then again most helmets in $1k range are designed for racing, so they can be noisier. Less safe.
Great video. I fully expected Revzilla to only side with helmet laws because... They have such great deals on helmets, but having the freedom to choose side on the video was much appreciated. Every adult should have that choice to make. I'll just keep choosing to wear an ECE full face.
The tragedy of mandatory helmet laws is that when enacted, the organ donor pool shrinks dramatically.
A motorcycle endorsement should require organ donor registration.
@@adamcarlson4922 Damn, I guess it's my body my choice until someone does something you don't like.
When I worked writing highway safety grant applications in the 1970s in Iowa, part of my job was to lobby for a helmet law. In seeking support for the law, I spoke with Bob Braverman, then editor of Cycle Guide magazine. Living up to his reputation of being something of a maverick, Braverman told me he supported helmet laws for the good of motorcycling as a sport and means of transportation. That was not a popular point of view in the motorcycle world back then. Another argument was that debilitating head injuries (see some of the comments below) impose a cost on society for medical care, loss of a person's ability to support himself or herself financially, and increased insurance costs (when accidents with costly outcomes go up, our rates go up). We have a tendency in society to see ourselves as free and independent of each other, but as John Donne wrote 400 years ago, "No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main."
Two unrelated points. The first is that in the 1960s my mother was a keen pillion passenger. When the helmet laws were brought in she no longer enjoyed motorcycling. The second is more up date. It’s not right that choice to wear or not wear basic safety equipment should be left to the individual. I live in France and here there is an on the spot fine for any powered two wheel rider or passenger who is not wearing EC approved gloves. This caused a bit of an outrage amongst motorcyclists most of which work gloves as a matter of course anyway but it turned out that the target audience was really the younger riders with their low powered motorcycles and scooters. The thing that persuaded the government to introduce the law was the cost of and the amount of wasted time that paramedics endured every year dealing with relatively minor injuries which should not have happened. I don’t need a law to make me wear a crash helmet nor a seat belt in the car but I’m still glad that those laws exist.
For me - I can't imaging riding without a full face on.. I don't know how people ride with open face or beanies, never mind without one. I've had rocks hit hard enough to take paint off, I don't want to know what would do to my face or teeth. As for the opinion on the laws - I would love to see a comparison of sentiment in the US vs other G7 countries. I think there is a very different view on civil liberties that would result in this being a much bigger issue in the US than most other countries just based on cultural differences. I'm not saying either view is right or wrong - just different.
^This. The amount of bugs I have to scrape of my shield after even 30 minutes of riding can be substantial; why would you want that hitting your face? A June bug, Dragonfly, or a Bumble Bee at 70+ mph would be a truly horrible experience. Even bugs like that hitting my jacket are unpleasant.
As a Canadian and expat Brit I have great difficulty understanding the American obsession with the word freedom. Freedom comes in many forms and I would argue the American idea of it is very short sighted and superficial.
@Martin Sanderson I think freedom used to mean something, now its just something man children cry when they don't want to do something.
@@martinsanderson5240 I don't think Freedom is the problem. I think it's vanity and foolishness that's the problem. I think the people who usually complain about wearing helmets are the Harley riders. They love to be seen by people. So they don't like wearing anything that covers their face.
@@nerychristian I've heard nothing else, especially for the last seven years. Freedom to bear arms, freedom to not vaccinate, freedom to not mask, and on and on
These debates that occur exclusively in the US are truly mind blowing. Wear your helmet. Wear a seatbelt. Using the notion of “personal liberty” as the premise for making fatal decisions is so beyond me yall.
But where does it end? You give them an inch they'll take a mile.
I wear a helmet at all times when I ride, but it is my personal choice and I don't want that choice to be impose on any other rider.
Don’t quote me, but I recall seeing data that indicated head injuries are more prevalent per km traveled in cars. Logically then, if safety is the key measure, helmets should be worn in cars as well. Imagine trying to legislate that 😂🤣
I live in a no helmet law state and I always wear a high quality full face helmet for the benefit of protecting my brain if I ever go down. I don't need a "nanny state" looking after my health and well being. If another adult chooses not to wear one then so be it. People know the risks associated with doing so. In the end of the day they are the ones that have to live with the consequences of their choices in life whether those are good or bad.
My thoughts exactly. To each their own. If someone doesn't want to make an effort to protect their brain in a crash that's their right and choice. I choose to wear a Snell rated full face helmet since if I go down I at least want to have a fighting chance against having my brain scrambled by it.
only problem is that of brain damaged unhelmeted riders who don't have medical insurance soaking the taxpayers to pay their medical expenses, all because they wanted to ride 'free'
One thing you aren't taking into account is your insurance rates are higher due to the higher insurance costs from more riders going without a helmet. I, like you, always wear protective equipment when I ride but knowing how insurance works, know I'm paying for someone else to have that choice. Freedom often goes both ways!