Helmet? What's a helmet?

[MAXIMAN]

My very good friend Miles called me a couple hours ago. He was right outside Denton, Texas on I-35. There was a wreck up ahead and a couple cars pulled over.

There was a guy on the side of the road. He was about 10 or 12 feet from his Harley UltraGlide. He was flopping around in the road like a fish out of water. No helmet of course. Miles said the hole in the top of his head was about as big around as a beer can. He was still twitching a little...eyes wide open staring off into the sky.

Did I mention he wasn't wearing a helmet?

The Harley was wrecked but Miles said it really didn't look that bad. Said it looked like he'd hit something doing maybe 30 or 35 mph. It broke the fairing and bent the forks but the frame didn't appear to be bent. Just a two inch hole in the top of his head. Not sure but probably had something to do with the fact he wasn't wearing a helmet.

It's sad to think how his family will react. How his kids will cry when they hear about their daddy. How his mother will be crushed because the order of life reversed...he died before she did.

You know...I can't remember...did I mention he wasn't wearing a helmet?

While helmets are not fail safe, there are certainly very effective preventing permanent head injury and/or death in a majority of cases. And while I am no fan of helmet laws, I will strongly encourage all my riding friends to use a helmet. If you are stupid enough not to wear one then you can suffer the consequences. I do feel you should have to pay for your own stupidity and provide your own medical coverage and not require the collective taxpaying base to pay for your carelessness. And Florida's $10,000 proof of insurance is NOT enough. Most serious head injuries result in medicals bills far in excess of $50,000.

Bear in mind these statistics don't tell the whole story. These general stats do not distinguish between a full faced helmet and a "brain bucket" The Hurt Report showed that 35% of head injuries in motorcycle accidents, the impact was on the jaw. In these cases anything short of a full faced helmet are ineffective.

Motorcycle Helmets
In 2003, fifty two percent of fatally injured motorcycle riders were unhelmeted. Many of the helmeted fatalities were not full faced helmets.

Two-thirds of unhelmeted fatalities were in states without a universal helmet law.

NHTSA research shows that, in potentially fatal crashes, helmets have an overall effectiveness of 37 percent in preventing fatalities.

In 2002, helmets saved an estimated 1,005 lives.

At 100 percent use, an additional 579 lives could have been saved in 2002 alone.

Only 58 percent of motorcyclists were observed to be wearing helmets according to the 2002 National Occupant Protection Use Survey (NOPUS).

[TopCatGr58]

Many have kicked the "brain" bucket

Hey Maximan,

I was stationed in Yokosuka, Japan in '81-83 as a Corpsman. There was this young 40 something sailor that had just made Chief, and had been celebrating with a party. He got on his bike that evening and went for a ride. Wrapped his bike and himself around a lightpole. He was wearing a brainbucket only!

I was incharge of getting him cleaned up in the Naval Hospital E.R. so that his "Widow" could view him, identify him, and say good bye to him, along with his kids! He had suffered a basal skull fracture, I could tell by how the blood easily flowed out of his ear and nose!

Yes, it's not just yourself that you hurt when you don't wear a proper helmet! But, hey, we still need organ donors every day! My card is signed, but I'll always wear a Full Face system!

Be Safe and cool!
T.C.

[prometheus578]

"It's all fun and games..."

Sobering story, so I'll spare the wise-cracks.
Riding has an inherent risk to it. Either one accepts it and rides, or one doesn't. And of those who ride, they can choose to either lessen the risk, or increase it.
Who was that Indy driver that bought the farm a few years ago? Why was I subject to three weeks of bogus national mourning? It wasn't his first time behind the wheel. He was an experienced driver, knew the risks of the game, chose to accept them, and died doing what he wanted to do... in the manner that he knew was inevitable.
A man's untimely death is to be mourned, but not always mourned greatly.
This Harley rider... obviously knew the risks involved in riding. And being (prior to the accident) of sound mind, he decided to accept them. He also decided to ride without a helmet, fully knowing that in the event of a wreck, his head could pop open and all the rocks inside could tumble out. This, he decided, was also acceptable.
For his devastated family, I feel compassion. For him... I snicker.

I hate helmets!
I wish I had a harder head,
but I don't,
so I wear one.

[e.z.nightrider]

The best arguement I ever saw for wearing a helmet. The helmet I saw hanging proudly over a local mc shops parts counter. You see it belonged to the owner of the shop and was split open six inches. He had hit a car that turned left in front of him, while he was still recovering from his injuries he was also telling me how much better I would look if I traded in my XS750-2D on a new XS1100 LG (I finally bought one 25 years later). I got that erie feeling you get talking to someone you know has been given a second chance, and always got it whenever I returned to the shop.

I always wear a helmet. I figuer I need all the chances I can get.

Ed Z.

[84xj1100]

Folks, as an ex military medic I say what a waste, once again stupidity has reared its ugly head.

As a Chief Instructor with the Canada Safety Council I say perhaps a lesson can be extracted form this.

I remember years ago when I was just starting out as a CSC (the Canadian equivilant of the MSF) Instructor and learning from the older guys. I remember how one instructor convinced students to wear a helmet.

He told them that if they did not believe in the use of a helmet to lie down in their laneway and lift their head off the ground - then drop it. If they weren't conviced helmets were useful imagaine repeatedly banging their head on the laneway at 60 mph. If they remained skeptical lift their heads from the laneway and drop it again. If that didn't convice them he suggested perhaps there wasn't anything inside their heads worth protecting.

I have mixed feelings about helmet "laws" however I do know that they work. If you wish to ride without a helmet perhaps you should also sign away your right to medical care should an accident occur or perhaps pay 100 fold the insurance rate that is paid by someone who does wear a helmet.

[John]

But...

It's a matter of choice. It's cool to feel the wind on my balding head. I look too cool to wear a helmet, so I'll just wear this here do rag. It makes me look too cool to get hurt. But all the other cool guys don't wear one. If I wear a helmet, I won't be able to hear my cool, loud pipes when I twist it up going under a bridge.


All good reasons for not wearing a lid...now, substitute the word stoopid wherever you see the word cool. Now, there ya go...that's the mentality of some of these guys. As most of you know, I had a pretty severe accident in June, and I was out of work for six months. Although it happened on a residental street, only a little more than a mile from home, in a 30 mph zone. I was fortunate that my head didn't strike anything on impact, but I'm sure the lid protected the back of my head when I landed on my back in the roadway. I-35 near Denton can have a bunch of wildlife crossing at night. Coyotes, deer, 'dillos, and rabbits come to mind. It's not very well lit when you are not all that close to town, and a critter in the road can be practically invisible...until you say "What the &$^@ was that?" as you're tumbling down the road.

[Artic_rider]

Back in 92, my dad was in a very serious accident on his bike. He pasted away a day later from massive chest injuries from getting caught up on the bars as his body was being tossed over. He was however, wearing his helmet. Is the hardest thing ever for a 12 year old kid to go see his dad in the hospital after an accident like that, but now that I look back, I am glad I was able to go, and say goodby to him for that last time. Fast forward 10 years later, my uncle still has my dads helmet, or what's left of it anyways, and when he gave me my dads old bike, he showed it to me, to remind me that they do serve a purpose. Seeing it, I know that if he wasn't wearing it, I wouldn't have had that one last chance to tell him I loved him, and to say goodbye. The Canadian Government, as far as I know of anyways, has a manditory helmet law. You still see the odd idiot riding without one, but then again, there's always the Darwin Theory. The way I look at it is like this... What is riding to you? An image, or a passion? I have a lot of pass time passions, some more dangerous then others, but with all of them, I always enjoy them being as safe as I can. Something you guys might want to point out to your friends south of the boarder that insist on riding without a lid.


Artic Rider

[Targetman]

I do feel you should have to pay for your own stupidity and provide your own medical coverage and not require the collective taxpaying base to pay for your carelessness.

If you wish to ride without a helmet perhaps you should also sign away your right to medical care should an accident occur or perhaps pay 100 fold the insurance rate that is paid by someone who does wear a helmet.

I understand what you are saying but....
What if the general non-riding public suddenly decided that ALL motorcyclists should get their own medical coverage seperately from the rest, for deciding to ride those murder-cycles. In these politically correct times, I could see it happening. Would you be ok with that?
My insurance is so high now that if it went up much farther it probably wouldnt be worth it to me to continue riding. And that's with a squeeky clean record.
BTW I am totally in favour of wearing helmets.
I feel naked on a motorcycle without one.

[Glarusguy]

I do agree that wearing a helmet adds that much more to saving a life as well as wearing a seatbelt in a car. The one thing I can't stand is when a law is passed to protect "me".
There are a ton of horror stories out there for just about anything. Woulda coulda shoulda. Every situation has a story to say either way. Still safety always improves your odds. Hell my lil brother is permanently brain damaged after a car wreck that put him in a coma for 4 months. He will never be the same. He lost his best friend and injured another. Not to sound melo-dramatic or even cocky, but he wasn't wearing a helmet either. He always wore a seat belt, but in this case as well as others it really didn't make a difference. Mind you wearing a safetybelt is the way to go along with a helmet on a bike.
The father of a friend of mine drove a tow truck for years.
Imagine the stories he has. One in particular stands out where a helmet was lying near the accident. Wouldn't you know there happened to be a head in it. Just the body wasn't attached to it.
All I am trying to say is I just don't agree that someone should have the right to make anyone wear one. If anyone wants to argue that it is for public safety. Well the public still needs to make their own choices if it endangers others.
Example; second hand smoke is dangerous.It directly endagers those around. Smoking is on its way out in most any public place. Should it end there? Maybe there should be a law that won't allow smokers to smoke at home if they have children or other people living there. I dunno. Sound stupid?
Example; Drinking and driving is STUPID. It will directly endanger the public. Hell drinking at home can be dangerous too. Just ask my ex-wife who is still struggling to fight alcoholism. There were times when I thought alcohol should be illegal, but then making choices allow us to remain human. Prohibition did not work, nor should it.
What is my point? Opinion really, cause thats what Democracy is all about. I don't look down on others for the choices they have made. I don't wish anyone to look down on me for mine. Imposing too many safety laws to protect "me" implies that I am stupid.

Anyway use common sense, be safe, and enjoy life.

[chevy45412001]

helmets

i have to agree with glarus guy here, it should be my choice to wear or not. I don't tell you not to eat hamburgers cooked directly on the heating surface cause they cause cancer do i ? thats up to you, I RESPECT your choice! (right or wrong , it's yours) Please RESPECT mine (right or wrong , it's mine) DON'T ya love america??????

[BLUEJEEPLAB]

As a retired firefighter and XS rider, I am glad to see the majority agree that a helmet is a great idea. Ohio has no helmet law, you can ride with no Bucket if you want. If you do chose to go nekkid on the head, remember that someone else has to hose your brains off the pavement and some poor trooper, sheriff or Cop has to tell your loved ones that at least part of you is fish food in a ditch.

Sure, a helmet isn't going to help in all situations, but just like the leathers, the gloves, pads and boots, they definately won't hurt.

[xs650mike]

Back when I first started riding in the late '50s I fell and hit my head. I was wearing a POS "puddin' bowl" helmet which got smashed but my head didn't. I went out and bought a better helmet. One of my friends back then went off the road at 70mph (fell asleep) outside of Las Vegas one night. Lucky for him a trucker saw him leave the road. His BMW endoed up a hill. He woke up in the hospital in Vegas with a brain concussion and minor contusions and sprains but no major injuries. His helmet was also smashed.

I always wear a helmet, usually open face but sometimes full coverage. I never ever hit my head again after that one time but I'm not counting on it not happening again. Not wearing a helmet is plain dumb.

There is a helmet law in California but I don't understand some of the Harley crowd who wear "novelty" beanies. My friend Ducati Tim and I came up on one of these who'd just gone head on into a Cadillac (he was passing on a blind curve) on Hwy. 29 at the Lake/Napa County Line. His head was smashed and he was dead, dead, dead. The wreckage of his bike was pictured on the front page of the local paper. 45 years old and apparently lucky to have lived that long. I still think about him every time I pass that spot which is several times a month.

[Glarusguy]

edit

All I am trying to say is I just don't agree that someone should have the right to make anyone wear one. If anyone wants to argue that it is for public safety. Well the public still needs to make their own choices if it endangers others.

Sorry. I meant to write. ...the public still needs to make their own choices if it (doesn't) endanger others.

[chevy45412001]

brain bucket

i am currently looking into buying a helmet.

[D. P. Larmee]

Hey, if you want some do-gooder legislators, who have more than likely never even been near a motorcycle, telling you how to ride yours, that’s fine with me. But what gives you the right to come on here and call me stupid for exercising my choice to not wear a helmet. Despite the fact that every set of statistics that I have ever seen on the subject would lead any rational person to the conclusion that wearing a helmet not only does not significantly increase your chance of survival, but can actually hinder your safety, I don’t try to preach to you that you are an idiot for wearing a helmet. It’s a personal decision and I think that every rider should be able to decide what makes him feel the safest. I, personally feel quite a bit less safe when I am wearing a helmet. I don’t appreciate a good portion of my peripheral vision being cut out. I don’t like that my ability to hear things around me is severely diminished and I certainly don’t like the fact that if, heaven forbid, I were to be involved in an accident, that the helmet that I am wearing to make me feel “safe,” is just cansnap my neck.

These are just the alleged safety aspects of wearing a helmet, and let’s be perfectly realistic here, if safety was any of our number one concern, we probably would not be on a motorcycle in the first place. The reason I ride a motorcycle is bring me closer to the elements; sure, some of these elements can hurt me, but I have made the decision that this is a risk worth taking in order to reap the huge rewards that I get every time I hop on the old XS; feel and smell the air that is rushing past my face, hear everthing that is around me, and yes, even feel a little vulnerable. If you want to sacrifice a great deal of enjoyment for a little perceived safety, that’s your choice, but please don’t try to make this decision for me.

p.s. For those of you unfortunate to live in a state where your government has decided to protect you from yourself, I realize that you all may have a bit of bias on this subject. I think that if I was forced to wear a helmet, I might try to justify it too. No, on second thought, I would probably be fighting that much harder to have my ridiculous laws changed, just as I am with my state’s pansy-ass gun laws.

http://usff.com/hldl/hoax/Stats/stats.html