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PKRWUD · 10-16-2001, 10:23 PM

Gentlemen,
What you ride is your choice. Your opinions of what other people ride is yours freely as well. When it comes to helmets, and the misconception that you are ALWAYS safer wearing one, I have to draw the line. When it comes to some idiot pasing a law that says I have to wear a brain bucket so my face is pretty at the funeral, I react. If you really believe that you are safer with a helmet, then by all means, don't be a hypocrite, start a letter writing campaign to your congressmen asking for a helmet law for autos. After all, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, more than 90% of all traffic fatalities are in autos, and approximately 50% of all auto fatalities are due to head injuries. In otherwords, roughly 45% of all traffic fatalities are due to auto head injuries, while .05% are from non-helmeted motorcyclists. The four safest states to ride a motorcycle in, which had the lowest percentage of accidents and fatalities, do not reqire helmets. It should also be noted that states with mandatory helmet requirements have a higher motorcycle fatality rate than those that don't. In fact, New Jersey motorcycle fatalities increased 340% after they passed their helmet law. The lowest fatality increase among US states after passing a helmet law was 166.7% in Rhode Island in 1971. According to NHTSA, the current national average states that use of helmets is accompanied by a 16.6% greater incidence of accidents and 3% more fatalities. It is my opinion that this is largely due to the false sense of security that a helmet gives most riders. A helmet cannot prevent an accident, either. According to Dr. John Lewis, Trauma Specialist, Los Angeles, Ca., "It is a rare instance where a motorcycle helmet makes a difference as far as a motorcycle accident is concerned. Most accidents are chest and abdominal or extremity related". A study by the Utah Highway Safety Department showed that helmet usage does not significantly reduce the severity of head injuries. According to the Bell Helmets' Dealers Guide, "an incorrectly fitted helmet can do more damage than no helmet at all"... and most people buy a helmet that fits too loosely because it is more comfortable. The Hurt Study from the University of Southern California (USC) shows that helmets are most useful in a very small range of slow-speed accidents. At highway speeds, helmets are for keeping off bugs, period. The Federal Department of Transportation concurs. According to them, there is no evidence that any helmet thus far, regardless of cost or design, is capable of rejecting impact stress above 13 miles per hour. In fact, in one of the DOT's recent tests, 90% of all helmets tested were defective. A study by the University of Utah Speech and Hearing Clinic found that helmets restrict hearing and distort sound direction, thus creating confusion. Not everyone has the ability to ride a motorcycle, and certainly not without proper training. All the safety equipment in the world cannot save the inept, unskilled rider. The bottom line is that as far as factual numbers are concerned, you are more likely to die wearing a helmet than not wearing a helmet. You are also more likely to be involved in an accident. If you still want to wear one, I think that should be your right. If I don't, that should be my right, too. Let those who ride decide.

Take care,
~Chris

------------------
Retired Moderator
MustangNet

My site: Peckerwoods Pit Stop

My teams site: Jim Porter Racing

RACECAR spelled backwards is RACECAR

HEY !!! Are you ASE Certified ??? If you are, ask me about iATN.

10-16-2001, 10:23 PM	#36
PKRWUD Junior Member Join Date: Mar 1999 Location: Ventura, California Posts: 8,981	Gentlemen, What you ride is your choice. Your opinions of what other people ride is yours freely as well. When it comes to helmets, and the misconception that you are ALWAYS safer wearing one, I have to draw the line. When it comes to some idiot pasing a law that says I have to wear a brain bucket so my face is pretty at the funeral, I react. If you really believe that you are safer with a helmet, then by all means, don't be a hypocrite, start a letter writing campaign to your congressmen asking for a helmet law for autos. After all, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, more than 90% of all traffic fatalities are in autos, and approximately 50% of all auto fatalities are due to head injuries. In otherwords, roughly 45% of all traffic fatalities are due to auto head injuries, while .05% are from non-helmeted motorcyclists. The four safest states to ride a motorcycle in, which had the lowest percentage of accidents and fatalities, do not reqire helmets. It should also be noted that states with mandatory helmet requirements have a higher motorcycle fatality rate than those that don't. In fact, New Jersey motorcycle fatalities increased 340% after they passed their helmet law. The lowest fatality increase among US states after passing a helmet law was 166.7% in Rhode Island in 1971. According to NHTSA, the current national average states that use of helmets is accompanied by a 16.6% greater incidence of accidents and 3% more fatalities. It is my opinion that this is largely due to the false sense of security that a helmet gives most riders. A helmet cannot prevent an accident, either. According to Dr. John Lewis, Trauma Specialist, Los Angeles, Ca., "It is a rare instance where a motorcycle helmet makes a difference as far as a motorcycle accident is concerned. Most accidents are chest and abdominal or extremity related". A study by the Utah Highway Safety Department showed that helmet usage does not significantly reduce the severity of head injuries. According to the Bell Helmets' Dealers Guide, "an incorrectly fitted helmet can do more damage than no helmet at all"... and most people buy a helmet that fits too loosely because it is more comfortable. The Hurt Study from the University of Southern California (USC) shows that helmets are most useful in a very small range of slow-speed accidents. At highway speeds, helmets are for keeping off bugs, period. The Federal Department of Transportation concurs. According to them, there is no evidence that any helmet thus far, regardless of cost or design, is capable of rejecting impact stress above 13 miles per hour. In fact, in one of the DOT's recent tests, 90% of all helmets tested were defective. A study by the University of Utah Speech and Hearing Clinic found that helmets restrict hearing and distort sound direction, thus creating confusion. Not everyone has the ability to ride a motorcycle, and certainly not without proper training. All the safety equipment in the world cannot save the inept, unskilled rider. The bottom line is that as far as factual numbers are concerned, you are more likely to die wearing a helmet than not wearing a helmet. You are also more likely to be involved in an accident. If you still want to wear one, I think that should be your right. If I don't, that should be my right, too. Let those who ride decide. Take care, ~Chris ------------------ Retired Moderator MustangNet My site: Peckerwoods Pit Stop My teams site: Jim Porter Racing RACECAR spelled backwards is RACECAR HEY !!! Are you ASE Certified ??? If you are, ask me about iATN.