Do you wear your helmet when riding a bike or chopper?

[ravensteve1961]

I think all states should make everyone wear a helmet for bicycle or a chopper. Cops should enforce this. In florida there is no helmet laws for adults. You must wear a helmet if youre under 16.

 

[Banjo]

People should be wearing helmets along with some pads for their elbows and knees.

Better to be safe than sorry than worrying about how you look!

 

[SpiceHD]

i dont wear helmets on motorcycles andi never wear helmets on bicycles since i was like 15 years old lol... i absolutely LOVE it when wind went into my face while im riding on a motorcycle. only thing i wear is sunglasses or clear glasses at nite... and just ride away.

 

[Taylor]

Maryland Law requires all motorcyclists to wear helmets. Before the law went into effect, when I was younger and didn't know any better, I usually didn't wear it. One day it started raining and the rain was bothering me so I put mine on. Not long after, I was involved in an accident where a woman pulled out in front of me. The first part of my body to make contact with her car was my face (protected by the helmet). It happened so fast I couldn't even put my hands up to brace for the impact. I was glad that I was wearing my helmet that day and I've worn it ever since. I can honestly say that I probably would have been killed from a head injury from that accident....and was lucky enough to walk away with a dislocated shoulder and a broken wrist instead of a broken head

 

[ravensteve1961]

Taylor but still no law on kids required wearing helmets on riding bicycles?

 

[Taylor]

Yup. Basically anyone under the age of 16 is required to wear an approved helmet. On top of the state law, many local counties and cities have their own helmet laws. For example, state law says anyone under the age of 16, but Montgomery County law says anyone under the age of 18. In this case, county law outweighs state law.

Maryland Bicycle Helmet Education Statute
ANNOTATED CODE OF MARYLAND
TRANSPORTATION.
TITLE 21. VEHICLE LAWS -- RULES OF THE ROAD.
Subtitle 12. Operation of Bicycles and Play Vehicles.
§ 21-1207.1 Helmets required.

(a) In general. -- (1) The provisions of this section apply:

(i) At all times while a bicycle is being operated on any highway, bicycle way, or other property open to the public or used by the public for pedestrian or vehicular traffic; and

(ii) To a person under the age of 16 who is riding on a bicycle, including a person under the age of 16 who is a passenger on a bicycle:

1. In a restraining seat attached to the bicycle; or

2. In a trailer being towed by the bicycle.

(2) The provisions of this section do not apply to passengers in commercial bicycle rickshaws.

(b) Inapplicable on Ocean City boardwalk. -- This section does not apply in the town of Ocean City, Maryland, on the boardwalk between the Ocean City inlet and 27th Street, during the hours in which bicycles are permitted by local ordinance to be operated on the boardwalk.

(c) Helmets. -- A person to whom this section applies may not operate or ride as a passenger on a bicycle unless the person is wearing a helmet that meets or exceeds the standards of the American National Standards Institute, the Snell Memorial Foundation's standard, or the standards of the American Society of Testing and Measurements for protective headgear for use in bicycling.

 

[Steve]

In Iowa, there is no helmet law. I still wear a helmet and a leather jacket with armour when I ride my Harley. I trust no one.

Sometimes I would like to just hop on it and ride in a t-shirt and no lid. But one look out there to the street and I put it all on! It ain't worth it!

Attached is my '04 XL1200 Sportster and my H-D flaming helmet on the seat.

Steve

 

[horselover61]

NH doesnt have law for it but in Mass do.

It is so sad to see ppl get killed without helmet.

This is happened while I was living in Mass around 1994 to 97. This principles of the school and her idea to have a bike day at the school for the children to learn how to wear helmet. So it turn out a great day for the kids and parents.

One day she and her friend decided to go for a bike riding on a bike path. Somehow she lost her balance and landed her head on the ground so hard. She went to hospital and was in coma with head injury. Few weeks later she passed away. Her husband who works at the bike shop now enforced anyone who buy a bike from his shop.

Another stories is this young lady about 32 yrs old. My exh already met her while he was at work. Anyway, she went out then on the way home she was riding on the back of motorcycle. Of course she was wearing helmet but it only half helmet (harley davidson type) with her bf. The car cut in front of them and they were hit on the ground. She hit her head on the road so hard and ended up in coma. Few days later she dies.

If I was gotta ride a motorcycle or ride bike I would want to protect my head. I rather have a full helmet like Steve got. I would feel safer.

Oh one more thing once you had an accident always replace the old helment for safety sake. Thanks you.

 

[Cheri]

Taylor but still no law on kids required wearing helmets on riding bicycles?

Yes but, there some police officers that comes to the schools and teach the children about safely rules of riding their bicycles and also mention that helmets should be requirement too.

 

[Codger]

Way back in the last century, in the nineteen and sixties, I had a motorcycle wreck. I did an ender over the handlebars, landed in the street on my head and hands and rolled for what seemed like forever. As I started to sit up in the ditch, the bike caught up with me breaking both bones in my leg above the ankle. My helmet, a Bell Italian Skullcap with black leather trim was destroyed and my hands had a very serious case of road rash. But my head and face survived intact.

I don't believe in helmet and seatbelt laws. Child safety seat laws yes. I think people should wear helmets and seatbelts. I think it is none of the gov's business if they (adults) choose not to. In most states shoes are required for drivers. In Florida they are optional. I think it is a good idea to wear them, but I think it is none of the gov's business. Just my opinion.

 

[Angel]

Right on Cheri ....

I don't wear a helmet when I ride my bike, but my children must wear one cause I say so!

 

[Cheri]

I don't believe in helmet and seatbelt laws. Child safety seat laws yes. I think people should wear helmets and seatbelts. I think it is none of the gov's business if they (adults) choose not to. In most states shoes are required for drivers. In Florida they are optional. I think it is a good idea to wear them, but I think it is none of the gov's business. Just my opinion.

I understand what you meant, You don't want the government to enforce seatbelts or helmet laws but, I think it is because people refused to wear one and then when accident happens, people regret not wearing a seltbelt or helmet. I think they just want people to be aware that you might won't come out alive, and they just care about people's safely.

 

[Taylor]

I don't believe in helmet and seatbelt laws. Child safety seat laws yes. I think people should wear helmets and seatbelts. I think it is none of the gov's business if they (adults) choose not to. In most states shoes are required for drivers. In Florida they are optional. I think it is a good idea to wear them, but I think it is none of the gov's business. Just my opinion.

I should point out that I do agree with this. While a helmet saved my life, I do believe it should be an optional choice for those over 18 years old. The one thing I really hate about our helmet law is how the feds blackmailed the state into passing it. The federal government cannot pass helmet laws, it has to be left up to the states (just like speed limits, etc). What they can do, however, is withold federal highway funds for states that don't pass it. They told Maryland that if they wanted to see highway funds continue in, they would have to pass it. At the time, Schaeffer was the governor and he would pass any law if it meant any $$$ for the state. Unfortunately, that is how Maryland (and many other states) helmet laws came about...the feds blackmailing the states for highway funding.

 

[Banjo]

I don't believe in helmet and seatbelt laws. Child safety seat laws yes. I think people should wear helmets and seatbelts. I think it is none of the gov's business if they (adults) choose not to. In most states shoes are required for drivers. In Florida they are optional. I think it is a good idea to wear them, but I think it is none of the gov's business. Just my opinion.

Driving is not a right, it's a privilege. If somebody can't follow the rules of the road, that person shouldn't be on the road at all.

Yes, it should be that strict, safety should be the top priority. It is the government's business when the drivers get themselves splattered onto the roads that the taxpayers paid for. Plus the extra costs it take for government employees to scrap your guts off the road. Like I said, driving is not a right, it's a privilege. Therefore, you have no rights when it come to driving on the road.

Just privileges.

 

[Reba]

Way back in the last century...

As kids, we didn't have helmets for bicycling.

When my parents used to ride their Indian Chief, they didn't wear helmets (1940's). My dad had only one accident on his motorcycle, breaking his leg. My mom burnt her leg once on the exhaust pipe because she was wearing shorts instead of long pants and boots. Most of the time they dressed like Marlon Brandon and the Wild Bunch.

I am a strong believer in using safety belts and child safety seats in cars, and people wearing helmets on motorcycles, and helmets on bicycles ridden in traffic. However, I don't like enforcing the seat belts (adults) as a primary offense.

I think some insurance companies can refuse to pay off if the injured/killed person wasn't wearing a seatbelt or helmet.

 

[Angel]

but I think it is none of the gov's business. Just my opinion.

I happen to agree with that line there!

 

[ravensteve1961]

Same here taylor,,,Florida has helmet law anyone under 16 but over 16 its up to you.

 

[ravensteve1961]

I don't believe in helmet and seatbelt laws. Child safety seat laws yes. I think people should wear helmets and seatbelts. I think it is none of the gov's business if they (adults) choose not to. In most states shoes are required for drivers. In Florida they are optional. I think it is a good idea to wear them, but I think it is none of the gov's business. Just my opinion.

I dont belive in seatbelt laws nether. But kids should wear seatbelts Not Adults this is another way our goverment is telling us what to do when we own something.This is pure socialism at its best.
And Banjo you dont think we have rights to set our own rules when we go out and pay for it and own it? I guess you look up to this guy?

Cause this guy thinks we dont have rights.

 

[Banjo]

I dont belive in seatbelt laws nether. But kids should wear seatbelts Not Adults this is another way our goverment is telling us what to do when we own something.This is pure socialism at its best.

You may own a vehicle if you wish to. But to operate it on a public road is a different story. Do whatever you want to do with it on your private property, but when it come to driving in public, you follow the rules and safety should be the top priority. Otherwise, don't drive at all.

Do you think if the government would allow you to fly a small plane over New York City without permission from the FAA? No, I don't think they would. They would consider you a threat and shoot you down. Operating a big machine such as a car, crane, airplane, etc in public is illegal unless you have a license.

Think about it, would the government want drivers who don't focus on safety as a priority to drive on the public roads?

No, they don't.

 

[Angel]

But kids should wear seatbelts Not Adults

What happens if you get into a serious car accident, and you're not wearing your seatbelt, you can fly thru the window and get killed, do you want that to happen to you?....