Occasional or regular non-bike helmet cyclist?

[goldfinch]

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.

[oz rider]

And I sure would like to see good data on injuries and risk beyond anecdotes.

Thank goodness. There are resources here. And yes, we killed more on the roads (no cyclists afaik) this Easter than have died in Afghanistan, but the Prime Minister won't be attending the road victims' funerals. People are not very good at assessing risk (not even distinguishing between utility and sport cycling), which is one of the reasons the anti-compulsion groups dislike MHLs; they make cycling look dangerous.

[smilingcat]

Interesting read of all the posts. I am honestly surprised by the number of "nahhh I rather not wear it or just occasionally".

[hebe]

I agree that culture and or habit probably plays a large part in this. Very slightly off topic, but I remember being absolutely stunned on a work trip to Florida once, when a uniformed police officer asked if he could join me at my breakfast table, and sat down with a gun in his belt (gun-holding thingy - holster?) I know that it probably wouldn't have been loaded, and that it must be absolutely normal for millions of people, but for me coming from a country where police are normally unarmed it was a huge thing to get my head around and actually did put me off my pancakes a bit. Even though he was a charming police man and no doubt would have been very effective in ensuring that everyone had a safe breakfast.

Sorry for going o/t. Just to clarify, I'm not drawing any parallels between armed police and bicycle helmets.

[lph]

Even though he was a charming police man and no doubt would have been very effective in ensuring that everyone had a safe breakfast.

*snort*