Helmet Law in your State

[Ken]

I live in New Jersey and our state requires a helmet. However, our neighbor Pennslyvania does not require a helmet.

Do you think helmets should be required?

[00SOFTAIL]

I live in Iowa, no helmet laws here, we have ABATE to thank for that, Let those who ride decide.

[Ken]

The arguement in NJ is that health care costs are passed on to non-riders when a rider gets injured without a helmet.

I agree, the rider should be able to choose for themselves...

[mikejme]

Hey,
I also live in one state that has Helmet law (Massachusetts) that's next to state that doesn't (New Hampshire). I'm right on the border too. Personally i always wear my helmet even though i do alot of my riding in NH. I should have the option to choose if i want to wear one or not. This is becoming a huge problem with this country, too much government interference in people's live's. I'll get off my soapbox now. Mike

[The Bacardi God]

No hemet laws here in colorado. They don't even require us to have blinkers on a bike! But yet we have seatbelt laws. I dont think they should be required even though i dont ride w/out mine.

[MFFM=4LIFE]

Here in Florida,if you have $10,000.00 bodily damage insurance,and over the age of 18,you can ride w/o a helmet. And frankly I've been in a few I'd say accidents and I still don't like to wear a helmet.(maybe I've been knocked in the head too many times) :eek:

[Ken]

Well, based on the votes, it's a landslide...let the rider choose.

[MFFM=4LIFE]

I like your way of thinking:)

[rexmitchell]

So I know this thread is old but it didn't have many posts so I opened it up again. I think that it is a riders choice to wear a helmet.

[Gooble]

It's all about insurance. My premiums shouldn't go up because people don't have the sense to wear helmets and end up getting hurt.

[Badlands-4-2]

I always wear a helmet, even though it is not required in North Dakota.

[Upinflames]

my hair.........MY HAIR !!!


just kidding. I agree with personal choice. It's the law here that you wear a DOT approved helmet. I don't wear a dot approved, but I have a little dot sticker !!

[Dodsfall]

The arguement in NJ is that health care costs are passed on to non-riders when a rider gets injured without a helmet.

I agree, the rider should be able to choose for themselves...

What about people that eat too much fast food? Or smoke? Or don't get enough exercise? Or don't eat their vegetables? Or watch too much TV? Or marry the wrong partner?

Should there be government control of all aspects of our lives just to keep costs down?

Sounds like a slippery slope to me.

[HarveyCreek]

What about people that eat too much fast food? Or smoke? Or don't get enough exercise? ...

Where I work those who smoke pay additional on their health insurance, those who can prove that they work out regularly get a discount. A company in near where I live made the news as in 2009 those with a Body Mass Index over a specified number will pay extra....

[Gooble]

The only way I see it being permissible if you don't want to wear a helmet, is if you are required by law to disclose it to your insurance company so they can properly raise your premiums.

[wutzcrack3n]

here in tx you can be exempt from wearing a helmet, being of certain age w/ required coverage. the option should be up to the rider i think,but i would always one just to be safe :p

[hsartteacher]

I voted let people choose. I always wear my helmet, my choice. Everyone makes that health insurance argument; folks, McDonalds is more responsible for the rising health care costs (diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease) than a few Harley riding free spirits. So let's outlaw MickeyDs and DunkinDonuts instead. :rolleyes: I am being facetious.

Someone needs to run some numbers: if you don't wear a helmet, in a serious crash, aren't you just more likely to DIE? That costs the system NOTHING (except maybe picking up the body, right?) as opposed to someone geared up, who may break a lot of bones or be in hospital for a long time.:confused:

Just sayin...there's a lot of hot air and opinions out there; haven't seen hard economic analysis. I guess if I were an economist though, I'd be trying to get us out of a severe recession... not worrying about the helmet thing...:cool:

[xTorvos]

I think, just as in seatbelts and marajuana, it should be the decision of the rider. I personally would always wear a full-face helmet either way, but I think that people should be able to make the choice for themselves rather than be forced to by the gov. Those who choose not to, either don't need to or will be taken care of by Darwinism.

[Goliath616]

gubment is screwing us Smokers right now, in 2 years the only place I will be able to smoke is in my house, with the curtains drawn. I have no problem not smoking in a restaurant, but come on, the parking lot? ok not by the door, no problem, but in the open air....I want to open a Smokers Only restaurant, if you don't smoke, you are not allowed in, how fast do you think I would get hit with a discrimination lawsuit? I pay more in taxes, I pay more for health care, it is my choice to smoke, just like it is my choice not to smoke around non smokers, I have no problem with that, but don't tell me I can't light up outside.

[taleahy]

Someone needs to run some numbers: if you don't wear a helmet, in a serious crash, aren't you just more likely to DIE? That costs the system NOTHING (except maybe picking up the body, right?) as opposed to someone geared up, who may break a lot of bones or be in hospital for a long time.:confused:

Well, not only is someone more likely to die in an accident with no helmet, they are also far more likely to sustain a serious and lasting head injury. The costs of caring for someone in a persistent vegetative state are enormous, and often more than the rider's insurance, if any, will cover. The costs are also well beyond the ability of the average rider's family to pay, leaving the costs for??? Us grateful taxpayers of course. I think that freedom is a wonderful thing, but very few people out there actually ride alone. I know that every time I get on my bike, I'm taking with me the responsibility for caring for my wife and children with me. While they would be well provided for financially if I were to die, I think the emotional toll would be impossible to measure. If I were merely maimed in an accident, we would be in serious trouble. Everyone has someone who loves them. I would hope that for their sakes, if not their own, every rider would want to protect themselves as much as possible. I love this sport and don't think I'll ever give it up, and I have the support of my family in that, but I try to be smart and minimize the risks I take.

[marcn]

I also always wear one but I feel it should be the riders choice, But I also believe everyone should be held accountable for ones actions. Premiums for non helmeted riders should be steep to cover ongoing care when,not if, they slam the asphalt.

[PiJiL]

It has been mandatory to wear a lid in Australia since 1971........I think.

I have alway worn one so I can comment..................

[schlyme]

ok my $0.02. in cali we have a helmet law, some people like it others don't. it don't make sense to me to not where safety gear. helmet, jacket, gloves, pants and boot. i even wear ear plug to preserve my hearing, and yes i can still hear horns and sirens. i read stories of some bad cases of road rash and i don't want it. i mean who wants the flesh ground clean(or not so cleanly) there pinky toe, knee, or skull. power to you if you feel bullet prof, but i ain't superman nor do i pretend to be.

[NAKEDandALONE]

Seatbelts are required in a vehicle.

Do the people who believe that motorcycle helmets should not be legally mandated also feel that seatbelts should not be?

Just curious about the thought process involved.

I think that helmets should be mandatory nationwide. It's much easier to ID the body if relatives have an intact face to look at. :D

[gkim4107]

gubment is screwing us Smokers right now, in 2 years the only place I will be able to smoke is in my house, with the curtains drawn. I have no problem not smoking in a restaurant, but come on, the parking lot? ok not by the door, no problem, but in the open air....I want to open a Smokers Only restaurant, if you don't smoke, you are not allowed in, how fast do you think I would get hit with a discrimination lawsuit? I pay more in taxes, I pay more for health care, it is my choice to smoke, just like it is my choice not to smoke around non smokers, I have no problem with that, but don't tell me I can't light up outside.

couldnt agree more. I am a smoker, and I have no problems with smoking outside of a restaurant, I am even curtious enough not to smoke in front of the doors, and I move when I noticed my smoke is blowing towards someone outside the restaurant who is not smoking. I am going to have some serious road rage when they say you cant smoke in your car....


On the thread topic. I live in NC and yes you must wear a DOT approved helmet here, but I agree with a few on here, that it should be up to the rider always, the insurance companies are all going to $%#@ you anyway

[wilmi]

Seatbelts are required in a vehicle.

Do the people who believe that motorcycle helmets should not be legally mandated also feel that seatbelts should not be?

Just curious about the thought process involved.

I think that helmets should be mandatory nationwide. It's much easier to ID the body if relatives have an intact face to look at. :D

Can't speak for the others, but I wear seatbelts in cars and full gear on bikes -- not because it is required, but because it makes sense. I disagree on principle that the govt should be mandating these requirements....messes up nature's plan of natural selection :D:D:D

[Goliath616]

Both of you need to stop attacking one another, you disagree, we get it. I for one, prefer not having to read posts that attack others personally.

[rexmitchell]

Any more of this and I will close a very useful and beneficial thread...keep it clean ladies and gentlemen.

[chaindad]

Don't close the thread....close the poster! Glad i missed that....I find it funny that anytime a "helmet law" post starts....anti helmet law advocates start commenting on other health related activities....good grief.....we're talking about helmet laws....not smoking or eating fast food....or seat belts:rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:

Here in Illinois there is NOT a helmet law...
I wear a helmet....
jmo....if you have anything to protect....you will:D

Just sayin'...

[Goliath616]

I will always wear a helmet, I gotta protect my hair (it's falling out fast enough, I don't need the wind to take it even faster) :p

[rexmitchell]

I wear a helmet about 99.9999999999999% of the time, only time I don't is riding to the store about a block away....I know most wrecks happen close to home but its a straight road and there is only one place for an idiot to pull out from so I slow down there....I don't think it should be mandatory to wear a helmet, only you are going to get hurt. It Texas you have to have a 10000$ health insurance policy to ride without a helmet...I have it so legally I can ride without, but thats just dumb....I do always get a kick seeing people riding with their helmets strapped to the side of their bikes on the helmet lock....I mean why even bring the helmet if it is going to sit behind you strapped to your seat....just my opinion though

[wilmi]

Helmets aren't just for accidents.....every once in a while, I hear/feel something small and hard smack against either my helmet or the face shield.....hard enough to take out an eye or make a nice facial crater...

[rexmitchell]

Helmets aren't just for accidents.....every once in a while, I hear/feel something small and hard smack against either my helmet or the face shield.....hard enough to take out an eye or make a nice facial crater...

Ill second that, I have had two incidents while wearing my helmet with the face shield up that resulted in a very bruised eye...A bug put my left eye out of commission for about a week each time....Your right, just check over your helmet for nicks and scratches and think if that was your head!

[Goliath616]

sometimes that helmet strapped on the side of the bike is for when/if they travel to someplace that they have to wear it, I see it once in a while here. Kansas is only 20 or so miles from me, and there, you only have to wear one if your under 18.

[gueedo70]

I live in New Jersey and our state requires a helmet. However, our neighbor Pennslyvania does not require a helmet.

Do you think helmets should be required?

Actually in PA you don't have to where a helmet as long as you are over the age of 21 and have had 3 years riding experience.

But anywho, I always where my helmet and I do think that there should be a helmet law. It would save a lot of peoples lives.

I know a douche bag that I went to school with that laid his bike down while he was driving home drunk one night. He had his helmet strapped to his back. He was no SERIOUSLY injured but it did look like hamburger. And I know this is mean but I was kind of glad he did that so that maybe he would learn someday before he got himself killed but he is one of those people that will never learn no matter what happens.

[Conleyevans]

i am a firm believer that it should be the riders choice. and if when the police show up it is obvious that you weren't wearing a helmet then the insurance should be able to say no to paying. that simple. we don't need the goverment making laws dictating our every decision, and honestly it could thin out the gene pool. (no offense to responsible riders who don't wear helmets...honest)

[RebelWithACause]

I live in VA where there is indeed a helmet law. But.... personally, I would NEVER get on a bike in anything less than a full faced helmet. There are enough risks associated with riding a bike without a helmet. Dress for the fall, not for the ride :)

[RebelWithACause]

The only way I see it being permissible if you don't want to wear a helmet, is if you are required by law to disclose it to your insurance company so they can properly raise your premiums.

Hey there Gooble -- where in NoVA are you??

[indy500four]

I'm fairly new to this forum and I haven't read this entire thread so this has probably been said in some form...I don't care if the 'health care' costs get passed on to everyone. I pay enough in taxes and insurance premiums that cover other people's actions, this is an issue where I should be allowed to make the decision on my own whether to wear a helmet or not. I'm definitely in favor of helmets. But I'm definitely AGAINST a law that says I MUST wear one or any law that says I can't do something just because it saves an insurance company some money. One by one they're legislating away our freedoms. How many states now have mandatory seat belt laws?

[Gooble]

Hey there Gooble -- where in NoVA are you??

I'm in Arlington, you?

[iamjustifyd]

Fast food places have nothing to do with rising cost of health care..the people who buy and eat it do. But again, it is a choice. We have too many pot holes already here so I wear a helmet. I would hate my hard head to hit the road and give them another one.

[JackTheGoat]

an old thread... but I've gotta say I'm in favour of personal choice for everyone except my kids when they get to bike-riding age

[BH121869]

i am a firm believer that it should be the riders choice. and if when the police show up it is obvious that you weren't wearing a helmet then the insurance should be able to say no to paying. that simple. we don't need the goverment making laws dictating our every decision, and honestly it could thin out the gene pool. (no offense to responsible riders who don't wear helmets...honest)

I'm with you on this subject..
I didn't wear one till I returned from Vietnam in 1969 and in Florida had to. Now that law has been thrown out but I'm smarter now and always wear a helmet. I personally know three young men who didn't want to wear a helmet and now their mom will have to feed them and clean their rear for the rest of their lives...

[Conleyevans]

thats a shame about your friends. in a perfect world we would be able to safely ride without helmets and pretty young women could jog in the city park at 2 in the morning. ah well. guess we have to make due with what we got...

[PJL]

I'm with you on this subject..
I didn't wear one till I returned from Vietnam in 1969 and in Florida had to. Now that law has been thrown out but I'm smarter now and always wear a helmet. I personally know three young men who didn't want to wear a helmet and now their mom will have to feed them and clean their rear for the rest of their lives...
Instances like this are also why I support helmet laws. Many times people are too myopic to think about how their decisions, which superficially seem to only affect themselves, will impact other people.

[RoadWarriorService]

How 10 bikers can defeat the state helmet law

Regardless of rationale, motorcycle helmet laws exist because bikers allow them to exist. And bikers can get rid of them too ... as long as they have the ability to organize AND do something that's effective.

If you are ready to take action (http://www.RoadWarriorService.com/act.cfm) and defeat your state's helmet law, stop by www.RoadWarriorService.com (http://www.RoadWarriorService.com/) to learn more. We aren't kidding about the "10 bikers," either. That's all it takes to get one vote closer to victory in any state house or senate.

This system takes the fewest number of bikers, uses the least amount of their time, and yet gets the most results. And ground you gain is ground you keep.

Assuming you have the three qualities we need, we only ask for one day of your time (and your zip code and email address). Nothing more. And we won't waste your time.

[rexmitchell]

I support wearing a helmet, and I almost always do, but as far as everyone else goes, I think that should be a personal choice. I have friends who do and do not wear helmets. Riding a motorcycle has its own risks and yes some accidents it wouldn't matter if you had a helmet on or not, point is I think it should be your choice. I do agree with what Texas has in place that requires you to have a minimum of medical insurance before you can legally ride without a helmet. That way the state and taxpayers aren't paying for someone elses choices.

[Prodigy]

I ma from Italy and for years helmets were not mandatory, then they saw the increasing number of young 14yrs old getting on mopeds and being stupid and crashing killing themselves and passed the law. I think that we could raise the same argument about: "should wearing a seat belt be mandatory or be the driver's choice?" why is it a law instead? Because there are more drivers than riders. If the number of riders would dramatically increase I guarantee you that they would pass the law. Some people might decide one day not to wear the helmet because it's hot outside, THAT is poor judgment, and deciding between a little more comfort while riding and protect your life from eventual accidents, is something that shouldn't even be debated while you're getting on the bike. If you ARE debating, then you have poor judgment and that's when the law would come in handy and put some sense into you head. I bet that the older guys here remember when seat belts were not mandatory and probably hated the idea of putting it on, but you got used to it and taught your children to always put it. Wouldn't you want you children to be safe while riding?
I say It should be a law, because some people lack in judgment and consider a little comfort more important than their safety and life.

Click it or ticket... I say also wear it or kick it...

Prodigy

[CherylP]

I live in NY and there is a helmet law here as well as a seatbelt law. I would always wear a helmet regardless but curiously enough I hate seat belts. I think we should have the right to choose.

[wilmi]

Here in CT, it's not required if you're over 18. I've geared up for the ride home from the office (I wear the whole ensemble) and would get comments like "I didn't know your rode a motorcycle!" from several people, to which I would reply "I don't...this is just to ride safe in my Jeep Grand Cherokee" Some people get the joke...but there are some that actually think I'm serious....:rolleyes::rolleyes:

[gammaqueen]

I always wear my helmet. I really don't see the difference between having seatbelt laws and having helmet laws.

[1998gsxr750]

I live in Florida if you dont wear a helmet you have to have 10,000 of medical insurance

[BH121869]

I live in Florida if you dont wear a helmet you have to have 10,000 of medical insurance
I live here too and you are correct. The problem is, they say the average motorcycle accident with a head injury costs over $100,000.00. The medical insurance should have to be more in line with that #. I know two doctors and one nurse that do ride and they won't ride without a helmet.
As for seat belts you can't drive very well without being restrained. If you swerve hard to avoid, say a child that runs out in front of you,and you are not buckled up, you will wind up loosing control.
I can't believe this is even a subject, that we would not all agree on. For those that do not wear either one, I hope you know the rest of us have a good idea of your IQ...:rolleyes:

[RoadWarriorService]

Always wear a helmet in your car, too. That's where half of all head injuries come from.

[wilmi]

Always wear a helmet in your car, too. That's where half of all head injuries come from.

Why stop at helmet? Gear-up! Race car drivers do it, why shouldn't we? It's safer. Also should make those 5-point seat harnesses mandatory....the seatbelt doesn't provide nearly enough restraint protection. Make it all mandatory for everyone out there who doesn't feel it's comfortable too...they'll need to get used to it just like they did with the seatbelts. After all, it's SAFER :rolleyes::rolleyes:

While we're at it, let's outlaw any motorized vehicle that is not able to remain vertical on it's own -- namely, two-wheeled vehicles...they are inherently unsafe, hazardous, and dangerous...;);)

[rexmitchell]

I live here too and you are correct. The problem is, they say the average motorcycle accident with a head injury costs over $100,000.00. The medical insurance should have to be more in line with that #. I know two doctors and one nurse that do ride and they won't ride without a helmet.
As for seat belts you can't drive very well without being restrained. If you swerve hard to avoid, say a child that runs out in front of you,and you are not buckled up, you will wind up loosing control.
I can't believe this is even a subject, that we would not all agree on. For those that do not wear either one, I hope you know the rest of us have a good idea of your IQ...:rolleyes:

Texas has the same law as florida but you are right, one night in ICU runs around 8 grand if my memory serves you right, and thats just staying there...I went riding yesterday and nearly everyone I saw was not wearing a helmet and what really got me was a lot of these 50cc scooters that can't go over 40 had young girls driving them with no helmets on. I think those are as dangerous as any motorcycle due to not being able to do any kind of emergency swerves quickly and safely.

[Prodigy]

well scooters are very agile actually, in heavy traffic in italy they perform great, I can squeeze through cars like nothing, the dangerous thing of scooters is that just because they are slow, people think they are not as dangerous as a motorcycle... yes, true, it's far more dangerous going 100mph than 45mph, but even at 20mph if you are not wearing any protection you can get hurt pretty bad... you can lose control and go on oncoming traffic, or hit the floor with your head... and at 20mph your head is not so tough... Bottom line: people who do not wear protection are stupid, no matter what they ride.

[RoadWarriorService]

Bottom line: people who do not wear protection are stupid, no matter what they ride.

Are you unsafe to ride 10 feet, without a helmet, from your driveway into your garage? According to 20 states, adults are too stupid to make that decision. That's the bottom line.