Mandatory Helmet Law

[SadieKate]

Taxes or medical insurance - public pool of money vs private pool of money. It is still others paying for a risk that could be minimized.

I'd rather have those funds available for the "sh1t happens" part of life.

[Veronica]

Taxes or medical insurance - public pool of money vs private pool of money. It is still others paying for a risk that could be minimized.

I'd rather have those funds available for the "sh1t happens" part of life.

What about smokers? Obese people? Drug addicts? Alchoholics? How much are they taking from the pool of money? What about people who choose to have babies, even though they know they will have a high risk pregnancy?

There are all kinds of things that suck money from the pool because of choices people have made.

V.

[laughlaugh18]

I'm in the make-it-mandatory camp. Partly it's cuz I work for hospitals that get stuck for the cost of caring for head-injured 23 year old helmetless/insuranceless idiots who thought they were invincible. But mostly it's cuz I love my friends' brains and I don't want them smushed. I can argue with them only so far; I want a law that makes them (and my friends' friends and families that I can't talk to directly) take safety seriously.

Even if it's not fully enforced, a mandatory helmet law will get more people to put one on. I remember when seatbelts became mandatory - lots of people grumbled, but now pretty much everyone wears one. Helmet wearing is one behaviour I'm willing to have legislated.

And, for anyone who wants to know the current law in their area:

http://www.helmets.org/mandator.htm

[tygab]

I always ride with a helmet, kayak with a PFD on (if you're in a situation to need it, it does no good on the deck my friends), wear my seat belt, try to eat sensibly, and generally do most other things that are aimed at giving myself better odds of staying alive and in good health.

My husband motorcycles (and bikes), and wears boots, helmet, riding pants and jacket now (the pants finally came, but thankfully he's got everything now). We both are amazed when we see motorcyclists without gear including helmets, motorcyclists with helmets but riding in tshirts and shorts, or worse yet, around here since there's no helmet law in NH but they are required in MA, and we're right at the border, a perfectly good helmet, attached to the side of the bike, not the rider's HEAD. Duh, they've already spent the money for the thing! So I guess, on that level, one could make the argument that legislating helmets on motorcycles has worked, but it's also enforced through tickets and insurance hikes, and easily identified. Maybe that's ultimately the difference - there's no wallet effect associated with getting a ticket for not wearing a PFD while kayaking (and BTW, it is legally required to be *worn* in MA between 15 Sept and 15 May), or a helmet while cycling, etc. I also am baffled by those who are obese and still eat supersized ice creams, or golfers who say they love to get out on the greens 'for the fresh air', but drive around in the little carts instead of walking. Ok, so I don't really get golf in the first place... oh well.

Anyway, neither of us support manditory laws around common sense. I don't wear a helmet because politicians or police officers, say I should. I don't think most of these laws do anything other than make a politician feel like they did something good (all the while ignoring bigger problems, such as a $14 billion roadway system that is already falling apart, ah but I digress).

I wear a helmet (and a PFD) because I value being alive, and if I can help myself to achieve that with reasonable precautions, I will. I don't know how to keep people from themselves, but as Veronica has pointed out, there's always something better waiting around the bend to be legislated. After all, the pols think that's what they're in office to do - make more laws!