Has anyone's life actually ever been saved by a helmet?
Absolutely, your reading the text typed by just such a person.
just that the only person I know to have survived a serious crash was not wearing a helmet at the time. I've lost several friends to bike wrecks; all of them were wearing helmets at the time.
Every accident has it's own set of unique variables. I wouldn't make a potencial life or death decision based on a tiny scrap of stats.
And as stated, just watch some MotoGP and you'll see modern safety equipment in action.
I would not have a right ear was it not for a fullfaced helmet.
While I do not support or agree with helmet laws. I believe you should have the right to be a moron.
However going over 20MPH on a motorcycle without proper attire (gloves, leather jacket, helmet, and jeans/leather pants *chaps are a joke*) is just plain stupid.
I know. I used to be rather stupid and have the scars to prove it.
Even with good experience it's just not a display of active brain cells to ride without your gear. period.
they also make an accident more likely to happen by reduced situational awareness, diminished hearing,
*cough bull$#&!*
Wearing a helmet actually increases your ability to hear when at spead (30MPH+)
The only way you would be able to hear without one is if you were wearing earplugs.
The wind ripping by your ears blocks out most if not everything. Put in ear plugs or put a helmet on and you regain the ability to hear.
The added weight of a helmet increases the chance of kneck trauma and paralysis.
Another bogus claim by those trying to defeat helmet laws.
THE only arguement to use to defeat helmet laws, is infrindgement on liberties.
*I support abolishing helmet laws as well as seatbelt laws*
Yes, helemts save lives IN ACCIDENTS - how many of those accidents WOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED if helmets weren't worn?
98% of all motorcycle accidents happen due to the rider's lack of experience or a slip in concentration.
Most if not ALL could have been prevented with increased skills and better situational awareness.
I don't care how many "studies" you want to put out there, wearing a helmet while riding a motorcycle is one of the smartest decisions you can make, right after training/practice.
I don't disagree that helmet laws are worthless, I don't like the encroachment on my right to take risk.
*I liked the helmet in the shower comment
* but please don't give any of the blissninnies any ideas.
I nearly twisted my back into a pretzel and broke my arm thanks to the last person leaving a bottle of bodywash laying on it's side so that it spilled a nice pool of slippery sludge.
(reminds me I need to reattach that shower curtain rail.)
Rich I completely agree with your arguement against the laws. They are anti-liberty.
However I wouldn't be so quick to take up the bogus arguements against helmet use that have been made up in an effort to prevent the laws from being enacted.
I wouldn't support a bogus study that stated hearing protection at the range was a bad idea, because it "limited my ability to hear those around me" thus creating a safety hazard.
Helmet laws were pushed through based on one primary reason.
The view that it somehow increases the cost burdon on taxpayers. Which of course is only true if you have a suedo-socialist system in place. Damn if we don't already have one in place
*edited to add the following*
the 1973 stats are pointless as modern helmet manufacturing has made huge leaps in the past two decades.
As far as the stats on registrations in mandatory helmet law states verses voluntary.
There are two falacies..
First many states are 18yo and younger mandatory only.
Secondly, the statistics do not state, illustrate or distinguish how many accidents in a mandatory state, violated the law.
PLENTY of people that live in mandatory helmet law states violate the law and ride without.
Lastly, I think the helmet debate isn't what the thread starter wanted to get into.
Ben was an idiot for riding without a helmet. Besides the pain factor from the inevitable wreck. He's making WAY too damn much money to take that kind of risk.