Mandatory Helmet Law

[Kitsune06]

I'm with DeniseGoldburg. Law or not, everyone should wear helmets.

That said, I think America goes nuts trying to protect people from themselves. If one is intent on risking their health, who are we to judge? The little beanie helmets a lot of cruiser riders wear just to pass DOT are called 'Brain buckets' for a reason. Your face hits asphalt, and all the coroner's going to have to pick up is your brain... in that bucket.

My SO insisted I not wear my helmet when I ride with her, as she doesn't have one (yet). After a couple rides, I couldn't take it anymore and said "You're either getting a helmet, or you're not riding anymore. You're off the hook. No begging, no pleading. I'm not riding with you."

It wasn't long until she dropped it in a convo that she'd love to go for a ride, but that I 'wouldn't let her'. Needless to say, she got a helmet for her birthday.

This is the same girl who insisted I wear mine whenever I was out alone, just to 'make sure I was safe'...

Seeing my husband destroy his helmet getting hit by an SUV in Eugene made me a firm believer in them, and I'm not about to entrust my greymatter to Jimmy Redneck cruising down the country roads out here. It's my own a$$.

One thought also on seat belts:
PEFYC. It's an EMT "joke" I came across awhile ago while looking into certification. It means "Pre Extricated For Your Convenience (through the windshield)". I always wear my seat belt. You never know when (as someone here so aptly put it) the sh*t's going to hit the fan. If someone hits me and pre-extricates themselves, in Oregon, it's a no-fault state, so I'm not sure how much of their medical expenses my insurance (or I) might end up paying... just because regardless of who's really at fault, insurance companies can be real good at claiming no fault on the other guy, esp. if there are no witnesses.

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?

I'm living for the day when people have enough **** common sense to be able to protect themselves. Every day I see someone 17 or 18 (or younger) with a baby on their hip, it drives me nuts. How many have health insurance? How many are leaning on tax dollars? How about all of the folks who weigh more than myself, my gf, and both of our bikes put together, ordering big macs? Do they have health insurance? I HOPE so, because I don't want to pay for that. SadieKate is right on. Americans are always looking for someone else to pay for their **** stupidity. It's oddly the same people who are willing to say darwinism doesn't exist but... um... if you've ever checked out the Darwin awards, it surely does, and I'm not about to put laws in place to protect those who are simply too stupid to live.