Flipping through the channels on the television, you’ll hear a lot of talk about motorcycle helmet laws. I thought to myself: What do the motorcyclists think about legislation such as House Bill 109 “Require Safety Helmets/Under 21”? Under certain conditions, it would allow motorcyclists and passengers to ride without helmets if they are over 21.
We are now gearing up for motorcycle racing season at my house, and my husband does land-speed racing, often going 200-plus mph. Yes, this is in a controlled environment. To see and hear what 206.98 mph looks like, watch here:
There has never been a doubt in our minds that when you get on a motorcycle you should wear a helmet and proper clothing, even in North Carolina’s humid summers. When most people ride their bikes, they do it to enjoy the ride and feel the wind on their backs. But we also agree that if you are not going to wear one, you are responsible for what may happen.
There are many catchphrases that you will hear around motorcycle riders, including, “It isn’t about if you go down – it is when are you doing down.” Motorcyclists all have their own stories about when they have gotten into an accident. Another catchphrase is “the only difference a helmet would make is whether you have an open or a closed casket.” Many will tell you that the fall was scary but they are were saved not only by their helmet but by the gear (i.e. Kevlar accessories, jackets, gloves, etc.) that was worn. Motorcyclists will also tell you that if you do not want to wear a helmet, then that is your choice and you should be responsible for what happens to you.
Aside from leaving it up to riders whether they wear a helmet, also there is a question that comes to mind when looking at the special provisions in HB 109. How are the limitations going to be regulated? How do you know someone is over 21 when riding a motorcycle? And how do you know whether or not they have medical insurance? How do you know if they have had a motorcycle license for more than a year? Unless someone is stopped for something specific, I don’t know how the rules can be enforced.
While the motorcycle community doesn’t seem to mind the bill and there is the need for personal responsibility on the rider’s part, let’s hope that while we are enjoying our motorcycle ride and the wind on our back, someone doesn’t interrupt the ride.
If helmets prevent brain trauma in an accident then the significantly larger proportion of trauma that exists in pedestrian and auto accidents should be considered in the helmet equation. That will never pass!
As for motorcyclists the issue here is liberty. We should have the same right to choose as motorcyclists have in 31 other states! There is no statistical evidence that shows any difference in brain trauma accidents in helmet states than in non-helmet states.
Repeal of the helmet law in NC will also attract moto-tourists to our beautiful state.
HB 109 is not about opinions. It is about facts and liberty. The fact is that there is no negative economic impact as in the “Public Burden Theory”. In fact the economic impact has been positive in every state that has allowed the riders, not the non-riders and politicians, to decide what gear is appropriate. In states where choice is allowed there is more revenue from motorcycle sales, registrations, motorcycle tourism, and deferance of the cost of law enforcement and the court system to real criminal activity. Opposition to HB 109 is based either in ignorance of the facts or discrimination against one class of tax paying motorists because or their mode of transportation.
Regardless of whether you think you should always wear “all the gear all the time”, it should be left up to the individual citizen to decide what is right to wear for themselves in any given situation or activity.
BTW: Not everyone who rides a motorcycle crashes. I know many riders who have not crashed. We also advocate rider education as an alternative to “safer crashing” ie helmets.
The lack of “equal protection” and “with certainty” in any mandatory helmet regulation, statute or law is key to the flawed thinking of their creation and execution.
Mincing words by using accident instead of crash is part of this discussion. All accidents are not crashes and all crashes are not accidents.
A legislator or other monetarily incentive driven individual or group has not protected my life, liberty nor pursuit of happiness.
It is a never ending story with arguments on both sides that come up whenever the topic of whether or not motorcyclists should be allowed to choose when to wear a helmet when riding their motorcycle. The helmet advocates have been loosing so they add in the medical insurance and mandatory training on the bikers yet nothing ever happens when the other motorists run their one and two ton vehicles over us. Oops, failure to yeild right-of-way, misdemeanor, give them a fine, meanwhile the biker is dead. Oh I forgot, was he/she wearing a helmet? If they were it won’t be reported!
I’m from Delaware and last year we had 17 motorcycle fatalities. 12 were wearing helmets. You die from blunt force truama!
We are a pro choice helmet state and I believe we should have the right to choose. We also have volunteer motorcycle training.
North Carolina should follow suit.
Well I’ve been riding for over 55 years, and I have never crashed on any 2 wheel motorized vehicle. I want the oppertunity to decide for myself weather to wear a helmut or not. Michigan recently passed a very similar helmut law after many years or research into this. Another state a lot closer to us is SC, I’m sure they have been looked into also. I’ve heard when SC enacted their helmut law they began to get a lot more motorcycle organizations began scheduling rallies/events in their state (more money and taxes coming into our state). There does not appear to be any good/legitimate reasons to oppose this House Bill 109.
Very good comments by all. This past weekend I had the pleasure of riding with riders form different states. Some from right to choose states Arkansas and Texas. One chooses to wear a helmet and the other does not but they have that choice.
We rode in 3 helmet law states this weekend and some commented that it would nice to be able to ride without one but on the roads we rode that they would choose to put one on just for those roads.
Having that choice would be nice. And in all the fatal crashes here in NC they have one thing in common all were wearing helmets.
If saving lives is the reason for the helmet law then why doesn’t the state require automobile riders to wear helmets too? Think of all the lives that could be saved …….. Repeal the helmet law and let adults decide for themselves !!!!
I’ve been riding for 45 year and had my first serious wreck 8 years ago. I spent 2 weeks in the hospital and 3 months recovering, I wasn’t wearing a helmet, if I had I’d be dead, as the strap on the helmet would of caught the bolt my face hit and broke my neck. Hard to understand unless you seen my injuries. The SC cop even put it into his report that if I had been wearing a helmet it would of resulted in a fatal injury. I’ve always been pro choice. If I have to wear a helmet on the bike, why not the car, there seems to be more head injuries from car wrecks than bikes!!!
Other motorists get in accidents and have injuries including head injuries, but are not required to purchase health insurance. Failure to purchase/maintain health insurance should never subject anyone to stand trial in criminal court. Remove the health insurance mandate portion of the bill and pass the remainder.
Have any of you bikers or motorcyclists here given some thought to the fact the you would be gaining your freedom only by joining in the oppression of those under 21. This under 21 group, by the way, includes a bunch of guys who just came back from Afghanistan and Iraq. Our government figured they were old enough to enter a contract to lay down their lives for their country, yet you would join in telling them they are too young to make the decision whether to wear a riding hat?
Those that join in the oppression of other bikers should be ashamed of themselves.
No compromise.
Ray Henke is correct. In my haste to comment about the insurance discrimination I overlooked the age discrimination. In addition to removing the clause which has insurance mandates which discriminates against motorcyclists as compared to other motorists, also get rid of the age discrimination. As a veteran of the US military I appreciate your comments Ray.
Although helmet laws are in place for the safety of motorcyclist and their passengers, I do believe that it should be a choice. Not a requirement! As a motorcyclist I personally would like the choice.
Helmets are meant for safety but block some of the side view. There have been many riding seasons in which I have been sun burnt on my face in the outline of a helmet. (Not a good look!)
This being said please give us our rights as Americans, and let the motorcycle operator determine whether a helmet is necessary for the ride.
A licensed motorcyclist should know what’s at risk every time the engine is started!! HELMET OR NO HELMET MOTORCYCLES ARE DANGEROUS
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