US safety panel calls for mandatory helmet law

[Bob]

The National Transportation Safety Board has called for mandatory legislation to force US bikers to wear crash helmets.

"The simple act of donning that helmet can begin the process of preventing that type of fatality and serious injury," said NTSB chairman Mark V. Rosenker. NTSB officials noted that non-helmeted riders were three times more likely to suffer a brain injury in a crash than those wearing a helmet.

At present, just twenty states (plus the District of Columbia) require riders to wear helmets. A further twenty-seven states demand helmet wear for under-21s, with three states - Iowa, Illinois and New Hampshire – having no helmet laws whatsoever.

[Romeo]

Is it just me or does it appear that all the Red States lack even the most basic public safety legislation? Let 'em go for it if you ask me, if they're stupid enough to ride without a lid let them learn from their mistakes.

[NighthawkNZ]

Is it just me or does it appear that all the Red States lack even the most basic public safety legislation? Let 'em go for it if you ask me, if they're stupid enough to ride without a lid let them learn from their mistakes.

Personal choice, freedom of choice at the end day... and that is what they fight and believe in personal choice and that alone at the end of the day is what alot of other countries don't like about the states. There are many things I believe our government should not stick their noses in either but the they do and other things I believe they should be sticking their nose in but the they don't.

Don't get me wrong... the helmet law yes and it should be helmet and safety gear... because I am allowed to wear jandals (not that I own a pair or would wear them riding) but...

One must remember its only been 30-40 years in NZ that the helmet has been around it hasn't always been you must...

You must wear leather, boots, gloves jacket and pants and helmet... and then an orange fluro vest... I don't like the idea of the fluro vest but its personal choice...

All cars must drive with there lights on which most bikes do any way to stand out and now they get hiden amoungst the traffic and blend in more than then did before.

[merv]

Remembering of course some states had helmet laws previously and they got repealed I vaguely remember.

[Coldrider]

Why are yanks so concerned with motorcycle head injuries compared to what they ship off to Iraq to get a 50mm cannon fire in their head, 3700 plus (how many friendly fire) and climbing....yank wank

[davereid]

If they really want to save a few lives they should make helmets compulsory in cars. As the most likely place to get a brain injury is in a car crash.

[Swoop]

Think of the benefits. Cover the helmet with velcro and the Merkins' could carry more guns on their person! You could velcro at least three handguns to your lid!!!

[pritch]

Citizens in the USA have rights guaranteed by their constitution, and they do tend to guard them rather jealously.

These things may seem strange to us who, along with citizens of other countries, do not have these guaranteed freedoms. What they have is to be admired however much it may be seem to be abused.

Simply put, in this country you are allowed to do anything as long as someone hasn't already told you that you can't do that. UNfortunately there doesn't seem to be that much left.

We have lost a lot of "rights" since the 1960s. It might come as a surprise to some hereabout but a lot of this took place under National governments with Muldoon at the helm.

Once upon a time we even had the right to ride without a helmet - if we chose. Now in that, as in so many other things, somebody else knew better than you...

[The Lone Rider]

Being from Illinois, I have mixed feelings about it.

I guess in the end I'd always wear a skull cap if the weather suits.. half way between I guess

[RDJ]

Why are yanks so concerned with motorcycle head injuries compared to what they ship off to Iraq to get a 50mm cannon fire in their head, 3700 plus (how many friendly fire) and climbing....yank wank

Ah, this is a thread about motorcycles and helmets. Not political.