Guy riding in Auckland with no helmet

[EJT]

That of course just proves you are the prat.

Understand this.

A helmet is SO EFFECTIVE at reducing head injuries that it is almost statistically irrelevant.

Time after time I have published tables of motorcycle death rates in NZ and invited bikers to use the data to guess which year we got helmets.

And surprise surprise, I get quoted endless data from overseas "proving" we need helmets.

No one has ever picked the year we got helmets from kiwi fatality data, as in spite of promises of massive reductions in death rates, it had no effect.

But there IS data you can use to make a good guess as to compulsory helmet year. Research "tetraplegia" and you will see the year quite clearly.

For every biker wishing safety rules on other bikers, there is a non biker even keener to make you safe.

Thats because riding a motorcycle helmetless is done for fun, enjoyment and because it feels good. Thats actually exactly the same reason as to why we ride motorcycles.

So, in the USA, they will be debating helmet laws for years to come.

But due to idiots like you, we will be driving cars.

A little unjustified attack me thinks. If you are relying on accident statistics to support your theory that helmets are a waste of time then I would prefer to rely on the countless overseas studies showing helmets have saved lives. Who knows why NZ was different. Maybe other reasons come into it - for example, people take more risks because they feel safer; or people flaunted the helmet law when it first came in because they didn't agree with it.

All I know is that wearing a helmet keeps bugs off my face and that is good enough for me

[Squiggles]

Understand this.

A helmet is SO EFFECTIVE at reducing head injuries that it is almost statistically irrelevant.

Time after time I have published tables of motorcycle death rates in NZ and invited bikers to use the data to guess which year we got helmets.

And surprise surprise, I get quoted endless data from overseas "proving" we need helmets.

No one has ever picked the year we got helmets from kiwi fatality data, as in spite of promises of massive reductions in death rates, it had no effect.

Spouting off a bunch of numbers as proof makes only you a prat. Come back with them in context (Number of bikes on the road, breakdown of injuries, etc). The old man came off a couple of times during that period, both times wearing a helmet, he will however feature under injuries (Gravel in knee, grazed up hands). So unless thats xy people who died from a head injury then its fucken useless.

Edit: While i do support a persons right to choose, i believe Helmets do work. People will survive a few grazes from a fall, but they'll be a pumpkin if their head takes a hit like most of the helmets i've seen.

[Mikkel]

OH NO! THE HORROR!

Conform DAMMIT!

[portokiwi]

davereid If you are so stupid to belive what you have put on here.... You should be ashamed of yourself.
That is all I can say to you,

[Ixion]

Well, simple common sense says that if you are going to come off a motorbike, and bang your ehad, then it's better to be wearing a helmet than not (I have seen the 'break your neck' arguments - I was underwhelmed).

If I was going to come off a bike , I'd rather be wearing one than not.

But that's not really the point. If I was going to come off a bike, I'd rather be wearing a full armoured padded Michelin man suit. In fact, if I was going to come off a bike, I'd rather not be on it, be in a nice safe car instead .

The more pertinent question is , does wearing a helmet make such a very large difference to the probability of being injured, or not, on a motorcycle , over the course of a year, that it justifies overriding the fundamental principle that people should be at liberty to go to hell in their own hand basket.

I think not. I'd recommend people always wear one. But if someone doesn't want to , for whatever reason, well, it's his head. And his handbasket.

Statistically, I imagine one could, if one searched hard enough, find the figures to show that universal helmet wearing has a slightly lower injury rate than universal non helmet wearing. But it's not going to be great. Most people don't come off at all in the course of a given year. And those that do, many don't injure themselves at all. And those that do, most don't actually bash their heads. And those that do, many wouldn't survive anyway, a helmet can only do so much . It's not going to be an overwhelming difference. And most riders would wear one, even if they weren't compulsory. The difference isn't enough to justify the interference. Here's y' handbasket. If you must go to hell, off you go.

Just as I may go to hell in my own handbasket, by drinking myself blotto every night, by jumping out of aeroplanes, by skiing (now that *is* dangerous - how come they don't have to wear helmets by law ?) : or any of the other unwise deeds that may injure or kill me. All without the law interfering to protect me from myself.

(For the record , and for the avoidance of silly comments, I don't do any of those foolish and dangerous things. I have a fixed principle never to do anything dangerous if I can avoid it)

[Mikkel]

Incredible how busy people are about how others should lead their lives.

If you think you might need your head in the future, wearing a helmet may not be a bad idea.

If you think you might need your hands in the future, wearing decent gloves may not be a bad idea.

If you think you might need your skin in the future, wearing good leathers may not be a bad idea.

If you think you might need your hearing in the future, wearing earplugs may not be a bad idea.

If you think you might need your feet in the future, wearing decent boots may not be a bad idea.

If you think you might need your ankles in the future, wearing decent boots with ankle braces may not be a bad idea.

et cetera ad nauseum...

It's your choice not mine, his, hers, ours or theirs.

[WolfCollared]

I think bikers should walk around with road rash pictures and hand them out as fliers

Only one way people learn, from THEIR mistakes....society is quick to judge and assume....

Fuck everyone else I worry about me and only me its easier.

[want-a-harley]

So why is he a prat exactly ?


Time after time I have published tables of motorcycle death rates in NZ and invited bikers to use the data to guess which year we got helmets.

And surprise surprise, I get quoted endless data from overseas "proving" we need helmets.

No one has ever picked the year we got helmets from kiwi fatality data, as in spite of promises of massive reductions in death rates, it had no effect.

.

Without saying how many motorcyclists were on the road these numbers are meaningless, the data set is incomplete and largely useless. Your points may be valid and true but this attached data does not back it up. Sorry.

Also look at 1951 and 1996 same number of deaths at 42, so you might say, helmets make no difference. However bikes have come along way since then, as well as traffic etc (ie helmet and no helmet are not the only difference)

[Mikkel]

One way to look at it: Wearing a helmet significantly improves the probability of you actually wanting to survive a crash.

[toebug]

If people want to ride wihtout gear then so be it. I would personally rather be covered than not but..

YOU WILL SUFFER THE CONSEQUENCES OF YOUR OWN IDIOCY!!!

[AllanB]

Helmets are good - it takes farking ages to sweep brains off the road.

[Motu]

People will survive a few grazes from a fall, but they'll be a pumpkin if their head takes a hit like most of the helmets i've seen.

However,in the realworld,the head seldom hits the ground like a helmet does,self preservation is a force to be reckoned with,and to be thankful for.There are possibly billions of people in the world today who have ridden a motorcyle without a helmet,and not died.There are possibly millions of people in the world today who have fallen off a motorcycle without a helmet and not died.

[zzzbang]

helmet has saved my life, and my fathers life (seperate occasions) aswell. dont come with your nonsense please.

[Reckless]

I keep seeing a guy around my area riding his motorbike with nothing but a fucking towel on his head.

That'd be a rag head Spank! I'd check under your bike for a bomb next time you go out!!

[Whynot]

However,in the realworld,the head seldom hits the ground like a helmet does,self preservation is a force to be reckoned with,and to be thankful for.There are possibly billions of people in the world today who have ridden a motorcyle without a helmet,and not died.There are possibly millions of people in the world today who have fallen off a motorcycle without a helmet and not died.

Good point.

There are a lot of places out there not stuck in a Nanny state mentality like NZ.
people ride without gear, helmets or whatever and are perfectly fine.

Its their choice, let them do what they want.