Quote Originally Posted by smilingcat View Post
I'm not going to call anyone riding without a helmet stupid just as I would not call a chain smoker stupid for the same reason.

However; I am completely with you in regard to having a hefty health insurance for those riding without a helmet. Doesn't health companies and car insurance companies ask whether you smoke or not. And if you answer yes, by golly, your rate is much higher than non-smoker. Same should apply to those without helmet. Simply, the actuarial says that riding without a helmet significantly increases the cost of medical bill.
Life is full of risks. Why chose the no-helmet folks for health insurance penalties? Riding in a car is dangerous period. The number of people killed and injured in car accidents are shockingly high. Should people with cars pay a higher health insurance rates? How about people who eat hydrogenated fats? How about people who work dangerous or stressful jobs? As it is, I disapprove of insurance underwriting, which makes it difficult or impossible for many people to buy insurance because of their health. (sorry--end political rant).



It is tough to draw these lines. Sometimes we are sure enough about societal costs (or enough noise is made) that we pass health and safety laws but even those have limits. Smoking is proven to be harmful and to do no good. Smoking has been banned in many places. But smoking is still legal. There are mandatory seat belt laws but your car will still start if you don't buckle up. There are speed limits but most cars can be driven far faster than the limit. It is illegal to drive while drunk, but we don't require people to blow into a breathalyser before starting their cars. One state we lived in didn't have a mandatory motorcycle helmet law but did have some kind of law which limited or barred recovery in lawsuits for head injuries if you were not wearing a helmet.

I do not favor mandatory helmet laws at least for adults. I'd rather see law enforcement policing risky driving behavior than spending time ticketing people who ride without helmets. And I sure would like to see good data on injuries and risk beyond anecdotes.

My husband was a special education teacher and he taught several kids with head injuries. All were from one risky behavior or another, from diving into pools to riding in cars. But we don't make kids wear helmets until they are grown up.