Utah riders not wearing helmets

[black27696]

I'm out in Salt Lake City right now on vacation and there isn't a helmet law out here. The crazy thing is that the very, very large majority of the bikes I've seen take advantage of that and don't wear one. It seems to be the general consensus on here that most of us wear a helmet whether we have the option to or not. I wonder if it's different here because people that don't want to wear helmets are drawn to states that don't require it. Or, is it because those of us using web forums on a regular basis prefer helmets for some reason?

[Dodsfall]

There is no helmet law in Illinois and a rough guess would be about 50% overall coverage here.

Cruisers seem to have the highest rate of not wearing a helmet where I live.

[Badlands-4-2]

The same here. No helmets required for adults. Almost 0% of cruisers wear helmets. lots of tourer and sport bikes still do though. I would haveto say we re below 50% total use. I never ride without one.

[internationalballer]

No helmet law in Iowa either, and a good majority of the riders around here don't were them, myself included. That was until last week when I bounced my head of the pavement. Laying in the hospital staring up at the ceiling thinking about how lucky I am to be staring at the ceiling its not a risk I'm willing to take anymore. I'm not going to preach to non helmet wearers, I'm glad its a freedom we still have here but you wont see me without one anymore.

[black27696]

I can sort of accept not wearing one if it's a short trip or something but something like 95% of the people on the expressway (all riders, not just cruisers) weren't wearing them. At least that was what it was like when I was there.

[piranha2]

Wear the helmet. And if 50 other riders drive off a cliff, do not drive off after them.

[Artie57]

Yes I would have to agree as nice a feeling as it might be to be helmetless. It is still better than using your head as the cushion between you and the road. I have seen it happen to many times even on short rides close to home.

[rcreechssr]

Wear the helmet. And if 50 other riders drive off a cliff, do not drive off after them.

Sounds like something my mom would've said. :thumbsup:

[Cruisinferburgers]

Hey, it's a free country! But have some mercy on your loved ones. They might have to spoon feed you and wipe your butt for fifty years or so.

[Arko]

Hey, it's a free country! But have some mercy on your loved ones. They might have to spoon feed you and wipe your butt for fifty years or so.

Yup. I resent that a state makes it MANDATORY, but I would wear one anyway.

[Hinson]

I had an accident back in 1981 that convinced me to alway wear a helmet. Not sure what the cause but a bad wobble caused me to go down and I hit hard. I was in the middle of highway outside Chattanooga Tenn bouncing along at about 80mph. The bike, thank goodness was sliding a bit slower. I remember hearing the loud smacks when my helmet hit the pavement a couple of times but didn't realize just how bad it was until I saw the helmet. It was almost totally red. Not from blood but primer. Over 70% of the paint had been scraped off. Had I not had a helmet, that would have been my head.

I wear one now, law or not.

[Seveca]

Wear the helmet. And if 50 other riders drive off a cliff, do not drive off after them.

Nice Piranha...well said.

Personally, I HATE helmet/seatbelt laws. I always wear a helmet when I ride and a seatbelt when I drive. I hate these laws because I should be able to make my own decisions, and if I do not wear either of these, it will affect nobody else but me.

[Arko]

Nice Piranha...well said.

Personally, I HATE helmet/seatbelt laws. I always wear a helmet when I ride and a seatbelt when I drive. I hate these laws because I should be able to make my own decisions, and if I do not wear either of these, it will affect nobody else but me.

That's exactly what I've been trying to say.
I WEAR gear, with the exception of a jacket when it's hot. I accept that risk, and I don't want anyone telling me I can't make that decision.
I never said wearing the gear wasn't the right thing to do. Just that I absolutely resent the Nanny government mandating anything.

[02cutominfl]

There's no helmet law here in FL, and it seems like 90% of the Harley riders down here don't wear it. Most foreign cruisers do though (not all). Not sure if maybe the helmet will ruin the whole Harley coolness or what. But I do agree that it should be a choice. If you choose not to wear one and understand the potential consequences, good for you. Me, I'll keep my brain bucket.

[cscheatum]

How can you not wear a helmet?? I mean I get that the wind feels good in your face and all. But I don't think pavement or bugs feel as good...

[Seveca]

How can you not wear a helmet?? I mean I get that the wind feels good in your face and all. But I don't think pavement or bugs feel as good...

If you want to wear one, you wear one. If not, don't. But it should be YOUR decision...not the US Government, or state/county/local government for that matter either. Personally, I look at it as natural selection.

[porange]

How can you not wear a helmet?? I mean I get that the wind feels good in your face and all. But I don't think pavement or bugs feel as good...

This. In my first year on the road I am legally required to wear a helmet, but I wouldn't ever ride without it. Every time I get on the highway it seems that some rock or piece of tar makes it way onto my face shield, and I wonder how that would've felt with nothing over my mug. Not to mention the fact that it'll save your life in a wreck.

[Arko]

Not wearing a helmet IS dumb. BUT..I want to have the freedom to be dumb IF I so choose, though I never would ride without one.

[kyguy86]

i wear a helmet but some times it just feels good to take it off and cruise

[horse482]

I think that it is dumb that you must wear a seat belt in your car, but don't have to wear a helmet on you bike. I always wear a helmet. I cracked a helmet hitting the pavement before I don't think I would still be here with out it.

[750killshin]

I have seen it happen to many times even on short rides close to home.

If the ride is so short that you don't have to wear a helmet, you should probably walk.

[papayolk]

Maybe those without skid-lids are rebelling againt the over regimentation of personal behavior that is the hearitige of the Salt lake area.

They are an industrious, courteous people who inhabit the narrow lands between the great Salt Lake and the towering Wasatch Front. But behind the wheel they will put you into the side rail rather than allow space to merge on the freeway. Commuting between hotels and road-show venues astride my mighty Trail 90 last December introduced me to one of their least desirable regional oddities-- the yellow traffic light communicates, “Stomp the accelerator!” to most of these cagers.

A shout out to you skydivers and base jumpers out there. You want to experience real pucker factor? Place yourself on snow melt blackened asphalt in the center of a busy, wide intersection, waiting to turn left. Trust only your six volt bulbs and reflective jacket piping to remind those staring above the bright flicks of snow fakes in their head lights, up at red lights, to notice you as their right feet await the Pavlovian reflex of a blink to green. Above you green turns to yellow, the signal of reprieve from your precarious plight as the heavy oncoming flow will now slow and allow you to complete your left turn and flee the kill zone. Instead, the explosive rumble and heightening pitch of a pickup’s four barrel carb snapped open fills the night. The front tire skids a bit as you grab binders and slap boots to pavement. While spotting the oncoming headlights the glow above you turns red. The truck grows louder. The red glow up to the left and right blinks green. You hear cars begin to accelerate, and wait. And wait. A full two seconds and the Dodge flies by doing about 60 in a 35; 90cc’s seems so slow when snapped to WOT from a dead stop. You aim a diagonal flight toward the safety of a gas station’s drive way, cutting through two lanes. One car drops from the sound of acceleration to heavy braking. Waiting on the sidewalk as traffic rushes past the light again turns yellow… wait, then red… wait, two cars run the red, two cars complete their left and you are off following them, tapping your brake light to warn traffic to your rear of your presence as you work through the gears.

Fun times in Utah.

Worst drivers in th U.S.A. When a sixteen year old takes their written drivers test, it's open book; true story.

[Hinson]

papayolk, beautifully written.

[Vulcan2K]

Hey, it's a free country! But have some mercy on your loved ones. They might have to spoon feed you and wipe your butt for fifty years or so.

Jeez, Being a burden is my goal in life. But I still wear a helmet.

[Gar]

No helmet laws in the Caribbean and we have not had a motorcycle fatality in over 37 years, because if you hit a biker here you get life. No questions no "plea deals" Life thats that and thats all.

[black27696]

Where do you live in the Caribbean?

[Cool Rider]

Florida's Helmet: While not completely repealed it was modified with an amendment that stipulates certain requirements for bikers that want to ride helmet-less in Florida. The law states “You do not have to wear a helmet in Florida if you are at least 21 years old and have a minimum $10,000 in medical benefits for injuries incurred as a result of a crash while operating or riding on a motorcycle”.
While I believe in "My Helmet - My Choice" riders who choose not to wear helmets should carry enough personal injury protection to take care of their medical expenses in the event of a tragedy.
Responsibility is important - $10,000 does not pay diddly squat!

[kemosaabee]

If you like the feel of the wind in your face, then wear a 3/4 helmet and some good glasses. If that isn't enough, wear a half hat - it may not save your face, but it can help the impact a little.

I chose a full-face modular for the protection it gives, but I can flip open the front at a stop light to get some air, or wipe the sweat when its hot. I love and respect my wife and family too much to ride without one.

A week ago, when I laid my bike down at 70mph it cost me $279.99 plus tax to replace the modular helmet I bought 3 months earlier - a cheap fix compared to the tens of thousands of dollars, not to mention pain and anguish of my family, had I been wearing nothing. After that crash my wife was still okay with me riding because she knows I wear the right gear - ALWAYS!

If you love your family, even if you just have one ounce of respect for anyone who knows you, please wear the brain bucket. I have a friend who fractured his skull (pole vaulting in highschool, but a busted head is a busted head) and watching his family and friends suffer, not knowing if he would recover, is enough to convince me. BTW - he fully recovered - Praise the Lord!

[Hinson]

Yeah, I've got to agree. Back around 1980, I went down (actually over the handlebars) at 85mph.

When I first saw my helmet after the accident, I thought it was covered in blood. However, on closer inspection, I saw that the red was actually the helmet material under the white paint. It was showing all over the helmet where it had been scraped off by the concrete. I realized that had I not had a helmet, that would have been my head hitting the ground.

I don't ride without one.

[Cool Rider]

Thankfully only went down once - (I do wear a DOT Helmet always) and it was in a slow turn through roofing gravel dropped off a truck. Only thing was bruises including the ego as my bike completely slide out from under me. Both feet in a standing position landed in the gravel and wham there I went. It all happened so fast, I jumped up pulled my bike up and rode to the nearest establishment and gathered my whit's.
Florida's bikers fought long and hard to have the right to make a choice on wearing a helmet or not. If they choose not to wear a helmet they should be required to carry additional insurance. A lot of bikers won't be able to afford the extra insurance and how do you enforce it? Very puzzling.......