Bikers... Please read and be carefull out there

[cphilip]

But riding without safety helmet or in any fashion that is dangerous does effect others and that's the point I am trying to make.

Take the gentleman in Cphil's story. He wasn't wearing leathers or a helemt if I read the story right and due to his own personal negligence his son is now without a father, his wife is without a husband and his parents had to bury their son, which is probably the worst thing ever.

Yep.... thats the point!

In this case it was dangerous to his now fatherless 7 year old boy. For the rest of his life.

And it appears if he had put on proper gloves and riding apparel he might have not been so debilitated... but who knows. At least you would think his injuries would not have been so severe. Perhaps. many do not wear proper ridding jacket, pants and gloves during the summer. Because it too hot. But they MAKE hot weather gear that is comfortable..... you need to buy it. Much nice stuff now in Textile/Kevlar mesh. You go an buy a bike and skimp 100 bucks or so on this? Its your life...

[bofh]

Yep.... thats the point!

In this case it was dangerous to his now fatherless 7 year old boy. For the rest of his life.

And it appears if he had put on proper gloves and riding apparel he might have not been so debilitated... but who knows. At least you would think his injuries would not have been so severe. Perhaps. many do not wear proper ridding jacket, pants and gloves during the summer. Because it too hot. But they MAKE hot weather gear that is comfortable..... you need to buy it. Much nice stuff now in Textile/Kevlar mesh. You go an buy a bike and skimp 100 bucks or so on this? Its your life...

Phil, exactly as you said. It is my life.

Personally, I wear my snell approved helmet, armored jacket, kevlar lined jeans, and boots when I ride. No matter what I ride, even if it's a silly 39cc toy. A crash is a crash.



But I don't believe it's the goverment's "right" to tell me that I have to. It doesn't regulate smoking, or drinking, or rusty chainsaw juggling.

There's no law that says, if I'm gonna smoke, I have to smoke a filtered cig. Nor a time when I have to stop drinking for personal safety. When I juggle rusty chainsaws, I don't have to have a tetnus shot, nor put rubber bits on the chainsaw blade.

There shouldn't be a law that says I legally have to wear a helmet or wear a seltbelt. If it's so important, you know "for the children," make it an arrestable offense, and not a fine.

[cphilip]

Exactly....

I just started this because I am training my kid in proper riding right now. And these are things I am finding along the way to send to him to make him aware. And reinforce the rules I am laying down to him. In his case the rules are "Father Regulated". Just thought I would share some of them while I was pulling them up. But let you decide what you should do. I am not endorsing or attacking any legislation. And in fact pointing out that other gear is almost as important as the helmet. And no one is addressing that part in ANY legislation that I can see. Its common sense really.

Is that you on the pocket rocket? Precious!!!

[Muzikman]

I am totally against gov control of what I do. But...if they are not going to require proper safety gear when riding, then I think if you get into a crash (your fault or not) and you were not wearing atleast a helmet, insurance should not cover you. There are too many stupid people out there, and I see way too many people riding without a helmet, most of which I am sure have not laid a bike down yet.

[bofh]

Is that you on the pocket rocket? Precious!!!

Yeah, that things weighs about 25lbs wet, does about 30mph on the top end, and most of all, it a hoot to ride.

Anyway, there are some pictures that you can find, that shows what can happen when you don't wear your helmet. They will make anybody want to wear a helmet.

Personally, I'm working in the other way, I finaly got my father to wear an armored jacket and kevlar pants, after he's been riding for the past forty years without. I'm still working on the full face helmet, however

[SlartyBartFast]

If it's so important, you know "for the children," make it an arrestable offense, and not a fine.

You going to pay the taxes to pay the police, judges, and lawyers and to build the prisons?

That's why there's fines. Incite people not to do it again withtout making them wards of the state.

Once you're on PUBLIC roads, it ain't all about you. The people that have to respond to the accident pick/mop up or bag the peices have a say in how you have to behave yourself.

If you want to blast around on private property and kill yourself go right ahead. As long as you endanger only yourself. But look at how much it costs to have EMS present at a racetrack. To limit the EMS costs for the public system, the public has every right to legislate how you use the roads.

[SlartyBartFast]

, then I think if you get into a crash (your fault or not) and you were not wearing atleast a helmet, insurance should not cover you.

And so the public gets saddled with the bill when the insurance company decides you weren't covered for that crash?

How do you identify the uninsured so that we don't waste our time and money trying to save their lives at the scene of the accident? You don't/can't. Society determines acceptable risk and cost to the public and enacts legislation to keep them at the decided levels.

[Hasty8]

And so the public gets saddled with the bill when the insurance decide you weren't covered for that crash?

How do you identify the uninsured so that we don't waste our time and money trying to save their lives at the scene of the accident? You don't/can't. Society determines acceptable risk and cost to the public and enacts legislation to keep them at the decided levels.

Unfortunately this point is lost on those who are more concerned about their own "personal freedom".

[bofh]

How do you identify the uninsured so that we don't waste our time and money trying to save their lives at the scene of the accident? You don't/can't.

Oh, this one is easy. they are the ones without helmets on.

Not that I agree with concept/idea, but it's really not hard to figure that one out.

[Hasty8]

Oh, this one is easy. they are the ones without helmets on.

Not that I agree with concept/idea, but it's really not hard to figure that one out.

Unless the helmet managed to come off sometime during the accident of course.

This seems a bit to much like being guilty until proven innocent. Until a better system comes a long I guess we'll just have to deal the the government making laws and controling our lives.

[SlartyBartFast]

Oh, this one is easy. they are the ones without helmets on.

Not that I agree with concept/idea, but it's really not hard to figure that one out.

Um no. Because maybe they were wearing a helmet and it got removed? Maybe they are wearing ahelmet but don't have insurance. Maybe they weren't wearing a helmet but do have insurance that will cover them.

In any case, you've got to have the public to pay for EMS services in sufficient numbers to cover the probability and risk factor of unhelmeted riders.

Honestly though, I think I'm in favor of remote control tire spikes and neck height piano wire. Help Darwin along and do-in the speeders and helmetless idiots. The Gene pool filter needs a backwash.

[Hasty8]

Um no. Because maybe they were wearing a helmet and it got removed? Maybe they are wearing ahelmet but don't have insurance. Maybe they weren't wearing a helmet but do have insurance that will cover them.

In any case, you've got to have the public to pay for EMS services in sufficient numbers to cover the probability and risk factor of unhelmeted riders.

Honestly though, I think I'm in favor of remote control tire spikes and neck height piano wire. Help Darwin along and do-in the speeders and helmetless idiots. The Gene pool filter needs a backwash.

I like your solution. The times I have thought about stringing a hig-tension wire across my street when the rocket jockeys come screaming through as my son plays in the yard is legion.

[bofh]

You going to pay the taxes to pay the police, judges, and lawyers and to build the prisons?

Um, of course not. I'm against that law.

[Hasty8]

Um, of course not. I'm against that law.

Okay, so you tell me then. Where is the government supposed to get revenue now that we have eliminated their fining us for violations AND ended taxes?

This oughta be good.

[cphilip]

Thats an easy one Hasty! Make em get SMALLER!!!!