Mandatory Helmet Law

[mimitabby]

I don't buy that line that people will ride less if helmets are required.
in my county helmets are required and in the last year bike ridership has
just grown like crazy!

Besides, those that "value their freedom" are still riding around without helmets. Police haven't time to enforce that particular law.

[Bikingmomof3]

I personally do not think a law will make a difference. When my boys started biking, I do not even know if there was or was not a law in place in the state we lived in. I bought helmets because I wanted their precious heads covered. When I began biking (not too long ago) I bought a helmet because I am rather fond of my head. Not once did I take into account whether or not it was a law, rather I am very fond of living and want to protect myself and my family. I see far too many people out riding without helmets and most of them kids. If their parents are not enforcing it, who is going to? I would *love* to see everyone wearing a helmet, for safety, yet I do not see that happening. I had a neighbour who commented that I looked as though I was trying to be a "racer" with my fancy helmet. I polietly informed her it was to protect my head. I have heard kids say it is "uncool" to wear helmets and women say it messes up their hair. I doubt a law will change those things. Education would be nice. I would like to see all bikers follow the laws when riding on the roads. It would make life much easier for all of us. Around here anyway, precious few bikers actually follow the rules of the road.

[mimitabby]

well Biker mom
that's just it; here in Seattle you will see that children are the ones who will usually be wearing their helmets; partially because moms care about their kids but also because it's the law.
The persons less apt to be wearing helmets are adult men and teenaged boys.
I agree with you all that there are way too many laws, but human beings tend to be their own worst enemies... and need a little coaxing sometimes.

[light_sabe_r]

I don't buy that line that people will ride less if helmets are required.
in my county helmets are required and in the last year bike ridership has
just grown like crazy!

In my Country wearing it is the law. and when we were kids wearing a "Stack Hat" was cool!

Then again, the $40 fine introduced when I was a kid is really not much these days... Which I guess is why I passed so many kids without helmets on today

[margo49]

The New Zealand compulsory helmet law was the result of one mother's crusade after her son (aged 12 at the time) got totally head-injured and vegetative. She just went and spoke and spoke more and wrote letters and wrote more letters to schools and pollies and councils till it got passed. Got so as she was known as The Helmet Lady!
Which is a different kind of compulsory from the US descriptions of passing laws in the objective or theoretical.

I only started wearing one when I was 45.Out of responsibility to the children .(And not wanting to give the SO the chance at finding someone better! rofl !)

Now I think - ok,so you have a 0.000whatever % chance of it happening to you; but if it *does* it happens to you 100%. Now I wouldn't ride without. You get used to it. And feel nekkid without it.
And recently I did have a crash on my head and it would have been very bad (tho' not in the DeniseGoldberg league!) if I had not had a helmet.

[farrellcollie]

I would rather legislate who can and cannot have pets or children instead helmets. Of course I also believe that I am the best person to make the procreation/pet owning decisions - apply to me in triplicate.

Seriously I think that Americans have gone mad with trying to protect themselves and in particular children from life. I do usually wear a helmet - but would be no more or less inclined if it were another stupid law. I have been known to run with scissors.

[RoadRaven]

Well, as Margo has pointed out, and Light Saber - helmets are compulsorary in the Antipodes.

The health statisics in New Zealand tell the story - since the introduction of the helmet law whereby you HAVE to wear a helmet on a bicycle, the head injury and head trauma admissions related to bicycle crashes has dropped significantly.

The same applies since to motorcycles (compulsorary to wear a helmet).

The same applies to the change in injuries since the wearing of seatbelts was made compulsorary in cars. The serious head and torso injuries have been reduced. The children flying through the windscreen from the back seat have been reduced.

The simple fact is, if most people dont have to, they wont. And we are not just talking about personal injury - the health system and taxes and families are affected by a serious crash.

Now, New Zealand is one of the most over-regulated countries in the world - but I think the helmet law is a good one - particularly when children cannot advocate for themselves and go out and buy themselves a helmet. If it is cheaper for parents to buy a helmet than to pay a fine - then they will buy a helmet.

Road *stepping-off-her-soapbox* Raven