If helmets weren't compulsory, would YOU wear one?

[Matt-EUC]

Originally Posted by Jayneflakes

Being a sane and rational adult

It's alright for some. We can't all be like you

[MisterTommyH]

Originally Posted by Specialone

As title.
Interested in the answer, the few states in America that helmet wearing isn't compulsory, a lot of riders don't wear them.

'merica

[Juju]

I don't think it's nanny state to insist on a helmet, where if you fall off, you expect

1 - Your immediate trauma care to be provided, free of charge.
2 - Your immediate and long term needs to be met by the state.

If you can't be arsed to pay £100 for helmet, why should I pay 24% of my salary in taxes every month to among other things, fund the ambulance who took you to hospital, the nurses, doctors and surgeons who treated you, and the DSS who then paid you benefits to enable you (and your family who relied upon you, and now rely upon us) to have some sort of lifestyle.

IF you promise that if the event of an obviously preventable loss, your costs will not be required to be met by the state (us) and this mitigated (minimised) then go ahead, don't wear a helmet, and I hope you enjoy soup. You mught end up drinking more of it than anticipated.

And if its a non fault accident, and your claim is worth millions, but if it were not for the helmet you'd have ben into simply thousands of pounds, is the insurer ok to just bin you out with the minimal payout?

And thats before you think about the basic unfairness of the emergency services/witnesses havint to witness your tragic and life altering head injury. Seriously, I work in PI, and "head injury" is the one, even a light, gentle one, which hits all the financial panic buttons.

It doesn't seem a reasonable compromise, to forgo all that, just for the basic right to get **** in your hair.

[Sid Squid]

Helmet if it weren't compsory? Not always, no.
Please no more patronising crap about healthcare costs, or condescending comments suggesting that deciding other than you might do is wrong.
If you were really concerned about safety there are a thousand things you might not do - of which motorcycling would very probably be one. All that PPE might do (note: might. You can still get hurt if you're togged up like a bomb disposal operative) is maybe reduce the consequences of a crash, not remove them.
The argument that healthcare costs are a problem might well be a factor in the ending of motorcycling, and it don't make a damn bit of difference if you habitually dress up like the Michelin Man or ride in a tee shirt, there are plenty of people who would like to see our little diversion banned.
Be careful what you wish for - you might just get it.

[Jayneflakes]

Originally Posted by Jayneflakes

Being a sane and rational adult I am aware of the consequences of falling off my bike and I choose to wear the clothing that will protect me,

Originally Posted by Juju

If you can't be arsed to pay £100 for helmet, why should I pay 24% of my salary in taxes every month to among other things, fund the ambulance who took you to hospital, the nurses, doctors and surgeons who treated you, and the DSS who then paid you benefits to enable you (and your family who relied upon you, and now rely upon us) to have some sort of lifestyle.

My partner was required to pay a fee for the NHS Ambulance that collected her following a road accident. Is this only done in our area?
Personally I would not wear a helmet that cost £100 ever again, since getting my Shoei that cost £500 I would happily crash headfirst into concrete walls it feels so safe!

[keith_d]

I read somewhere that you can get significant brain trauma from just falling off your bike sideways onto the kerb, probably because you don't get your hands off the bike in time to break the fall. I can't be bothered to look for the article now, but if you're interested I'm sure Google can find it for your.

Personally I like my grey porridge in (mostly) working order, and my skin attached to my flesh. So I'm in the ATGATT (all the gear all the time) camp.

[Matt-EUC]

Originally Posted by keith_d

I read somewhere that you can get significant brain trauma from just falling off your bike sideways onto the kerb, probably because you don't get your hands off the bike in time to break the fall. I can't be bothered to look for the article now, but if you're interested I'm sure Google can find it for your.

Personally I like my grey porridge in (mostly) working order, and my skin attached to my flesh. So I'm camp.

[Jayneflakes]

Originally Posted by keith_d

Personally I like my grey porridge in (mostly) working order, and my skin attached to my flesh. So I'm in the ATGATT (all the gear all the time) camp.

On my last trip to Thailand, we got laughed at by the locals because we took our gear with us and then rode in it despite the heat. Shoei helmets, Weiss armoured jackets, motorcycle jeans and full grain leather boots. Yes it was hot, but they drive like loonies over there and I did not want the hassle of claiming on my insurance!

What is good about that place though is the freedom of choice. They have a compulsory helmet law over there too, but the helmets they have are polystyrene cooking bowls with cloth covers and I would not wear one of these on my push bike! It shocked the locals with how much our lids cost us, but then they shocked us by riding big capacity sports bikes in flip flops and shorts! However I still stand by what I said before, it is freedom of choice. Think of it as natural selection, Darwinism in action.

I do believe that Jeremy Clarkson once said that the best way to improve road safety was to remove car seat belts and install a large spike in steering wheels. I am all up for this!

[Matt-EUC]

Originally Posted by Jayneflakes

I do believe that Jeremy Clarkson once said that the best way to improve road safety was to remove car seat belts and install a large spike in steering wheels. I am all up for this!

Totally agree.


Sent via the medium of interpretative dance.

[Red ones]

Armour and back protectors aren't required by law but most of us wear them for a reason.

I'd wear a helmet. I had a cycling accident about 20 years ago and hit the deck at 30mph face first. The helmet I was wearing broke in to 4 pieces, but only after taking a massive impact. Convinced it saved my life, so now I insist on helmets on cycles and bikes.