The American Spectator

Reader Mail

(Page 3 of 13)

But what about the actual benefits of wearing a helmet? According to accident data from NHTSA, helmet laws reduce gross fatalities without reducing risk to riders. For starters, helmets don't prevent accidents, and riders in accidents almost always get injured. So helmets come into the equation only after an accident happens. Yet about 3 percent of riders in accidents get killed, regardless of whether there's a mandatory helmet law in effect. If helmets were as effective as seatbelts are, you'd see a stark difference. But it just isn't there.

Let's suppose that helmets really are the magic bullet they're cracked up to be. Why stop at motorcyclists, who account for less than one-tenth of all serious head injuries? There are slightly more pedestrian fatalities. Our senior citizens are notorious for conking their noggins, too. In fact, there are several groups that account for more than motorcycle accident victims. But reporters never cap off these stories with "and he wasn't wearing a helmet." Who'da thunk it?

Auto accident victims account for the lion's share of serious head injuries -- almost half of the total. And using NHTSA's own prediction formula, we'd save five times as many lives by mandating helmets for automobile drivers. But there's a reason that nobody is clamoring for helmets in cars or crosswalks. It's because helmet laws are okay as long as they apply to the "other guy."

Non-riders -- people who can't even drive a motorcycle around a parking lot without crashing -- are often self-styled experts on motorcycle safety. And these same people are overwhelmingly in favor of mandatory helmet laws. Perhaps it's because they think motorcyclists are crazy enough to ride at all, and are therefore in need of adult supervision. Or perhaps it's because they remember seeing a couple of Darwinian nut cases on bikes, but don't seem to notice the thousands of responsible riders on the road.

p>In our safety-obsessed culture, the outward appearance of risking your health is a big no-no. And perception is nine tenths of the flaw. Hypocrisy easily covers the rest. br> -- Douglas Findlay br> State Director, br> ABATE of Virginia, Inc. /p>

Boy, this is tough one. Freedom is a very important part of the bike riding experience. There's something about getting on my Electra-Glide and just riding; doesn't matter where as long as I'm riding.

But this helmet thing, to me, isn't an issue of freedom. It's a necessity! I was forced of the road last year and ended up dropping my bike at about 5-10 mph. That doesn't sound too fast; heck, people can RUN that fast. But I bounced and rolled a number of times along the side of the road. Banged up both knees and shoulders and they still bother me. But the scariest thing of all was looking at my helmet afterwards. Prior to the drop, it didn't have a scratch on it. Afterwards, it looked like someone had beaten it with a spike strip. There was one real major gash just above the right temple. That could have been my bare head.

I don't care WHAT the laws are, or what the riding conditions are, that helmet will ALWAYS be on my head while riding a bike. There were times last summer when it was 100+, I was stuck in a traffic jam, but I would NOT remove that helmet.

p>Now, let's talk about those bike riders wearing sandals. Jeez... br> --

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