Sikhs and turbans

**The Wop** · 4th September 2009, 08:27

Hello there! I have not searched the forums so don't know whether this has been discussed before.

Did you know that a Sikh, who wears a turban, is not required to wear a helmet when riding a bike in NZ? I sold a 50cc Vespa to a Sikh gentleman a few weeks ago and he reckoned that he has "dispensation" from the Police and doesn't need to wear a helmet...

I have no problem with respecting diversity (and hell, it is his own choice on how he manages risk), but did think that this might contribute to our high ACC costs! Imagine the damage if you came off wearing only a turban (and goggles, as it turns out). Having said that, death may be cheaper than long rehab!

I wonder whether SHARK in the UK rated turbans?

Over and out.

**davereid** · 4th September 2009, 08:33

Wen the law was introduced, you used to be able to apply for an exemption on a wide range of medical and religious grounds.

The exemption forms etc no longer exist on the LTSA website.

That doesnt mean they dont exist, LTSA just remove data on stuff they dont like. For example, if you look u registration fees, the LTSA does not list class EB, as its only $80, in the hope I assume, that no one will read about it and use it.

**Flatcap** · 4th September 2009, 08:39

Well, he should at least wear a full-face turban

**Usarka** · 4th September 2009, 09:04

Was it a 2 stroke...?

Turban wearers are affectiontely known as pull-starts.

Indians with dots on the forehead are push-starts.....

**Clockwork** · 4th September 2009, 09:06

I would have thought having thier head split in two would save ACC a fortune in rehab.

**Robbo** · 4th September 2009, 09:21

Look out on the roads. The Turban Bikers are coming.

**CookMySock** · 4th September 2009, 09:29

Originally Posted by The Wop

he reckoned that he has "dispensation" from the Police and doesn't need to wear a helmet...

The "police" don't have any right to issue exemptions from the law. I think he will discover he is quite mistaken.

Steve

**Insanity_rules** · 4th September 2009, 09:53

Originally Posted by The Wop

I wonder whether SHARK in the UK rated turbans?

Nah I think nitro does turbans though.

**The Wop** · 4th September 2009, 10:25

Originally Posted by Clockwork

I would have thought having thier head split in two would save ACC a fortune in rehab.

Yeah, I thought the same thing, provided he comes off hard enough!!

**The Pastor** · 4th September 2009, 11:08

Originally Posted by davereid

Wen the law was introduced, you used to be able to apply for an exemption on a wide range of medical and religious grounds.

The exemption forms etc no longer exist on the LTSA website.

That doesnt mean they dont exist, LTSA just remove data on stuff they dont like. For example, if you look u registration fees, the LTSA does not list class EB, as its only $80, in the hope I assume, that no one will read about it and use it.

what is class eb