[alfred]

Is the passenger recquired to wear a helmet in Ma ? or is it just the driver.

[bemused]

yup... according to this site , both you AND pillion are required to wear a DOT-approved lid at all times.

[Jim N]

Both

[McBiggity]

i think it's nuts to ride without a helmet. I can't even imagine it. I ride through CT and see alot of riders with no lid on. Even a fall at 5mph could knock you out without a helmet. I don't know why some states don't require it- although it could be compared to the seat-belt law. Some people just refuse to wear them

[beet]

& im verry lucky that i can walk 2day
even if im test riding ....here out im gearing up .....
if i had my gear on sure would a been better
that reminds me they owe me pants cut um off fuck them

[g®eg]

two sides to the helmet discussion:

side one:

If helmets significantly reduce the severity of injuries sustained in motorcycle accidents and even save the lives of motorcyclists, then all motorcyclists should wear a helmet.

It should not require a law for all motorcyclists to wear helmets. However, some people choose not to, in spite of the rational and incontrovertible reasons for doing so.

Consequently, anyone who chooses not to wear a helmet is obviously ignorant or an idiot and, therefore, requires a law compelling them to wear a helmet.

Anyone who chooses not to wear a helmet---by so choosing---demonstrates their inability to protect themselves as a responsible adult and thereby requires the state to impose protections on their behalf.

There is ample precedent for laws to protect children and weak-minded adults from injuring themselves and helmet laws are no different.


side two:

1.) Do you break the speed limit? I guess there's irrefutable evidence that if you hit a brick wall at beyond 55mph you're probably going to hurt yourself more than if you were going less than 55mph. But a) Big Brother does post speed limits that you probably ignore b) you've accepted the risk of exceeding the speed limits

2.) How many laws have to be made to "protect the stupid from themselves"? And can these laws be enforced?

3.) You and I know that wearing a helmet is a bright thing to do, so we do it. If you choose otherwise, you accept the risk/consequences of the action. End of discussion........

4.) Someone countered the agruement of the "public good"; that is, as I see it, the arguement that society should not pay for your stupidity. However, society already has to share the cost of education, utilities, road repair, and litigation over issues where the consumer feels that THEY ARE ENTITLED TO BE STUPID (eg, sueing McDonald's because they spilled hot coffee on themselves and McDonalds didn't tell them that the coffee was hot!!! Did they order ice coffee?!?)

5.) The government that governs least, governs best - Thomas
Jefferson, I believe?

I don't know if it's a convincing arguement, but people need to start taking responsibility for their own actions. We do our part by doing MSF courses and spreading the good word. But what riders do or don't do is up to them.....they may end up culling themselves from the herd.

[bemused]

fwiw... I don't ride on the street w/out a helmet. period. not because of helmet laws... because of the laws of physics.

however, I don't believe in helmet laws. I do, however, believe in Darwinism...

[beet]

lucky ...

[Brian_C6]

Basically, I wear a helmet at all times because I'm smart. I need my head and some old lady isn't going to take it from me.

I think Laws have no right to force idiots to wear helmets. This is American and we have the right to make the choice. You can't compare the helmet law to speed limit laws either. Speed limits are enforced to protect the safety of OTHERS. If you speed and loose control, your actions CAN effect others. Now, if you're not wearing a helmet and you are involved in an accident, the percussions of you not wearing a helmet has no bearing anyone else but yourself. That is the decision YOU made and it doesn't effect anyone but you.

Here is another thing to think about..... Who here wears their seat belt at all times when in a car? All the sudden the choice for wearing a helmet doesn't seem so out of the question. If we choose to be idiots and except the consequence (without effecting anyone else) then we should have the right to make the decision. Laws are established to protect YOU from OTHERS.... not YOU from yourself.

My $.02

Lata,

[Brian_C6]

Also, I thought I just heard that Mass Government is passing a law which allows anyone over the age of 21 to have the choice of helmet law. I heard this new law has been voted on and passed through like 3 channels already. Now it needs to be passed through like 1 more channel to become a 100% legit law. I dunno... just what I heard.

Anyone else hear about this?

Lata,
Bri

[Brian_C6]

this topic is gaining some heat over on my board. If you're interested, check it out....

http://www.stuntlife.com/forums/show...threadid=29859

Lata,
Bri

[bemused]

Originally posted by Brian_C6
this topic is gaining some heat over on my board. If you're interested, check it out....

http://www.stuntlife.com/forums/show...threadid=29859

Lata,
Bri

this topic tends to gain heat on ANY board, no matter how often repeated...

[TLRMan]

I wear my helmet because I have already tested this theory 4 times already. Plain and simple, they work. (most of the time)

I wear seatbelts, because I have tested this theory also.
Someone blew a stop sign on me, and my head didn't become part of the steering wheel. Car came out a lot worse, and was totalled. All I got was a sore shoulder from the strap, and a messed up neck. Wonder how many "G's" I experienced....

BTW, the average speed of impact in which the motorcyclist dies from an impact to the head, is around 19 to 21 miles per hour. So even if you run at the speed limit, and you try to defeat the law of physics, and pass your head thru a telephone pole, there are limitations...But I think you do have a better chance with a bucket on, than not...

[Kham]

LAW SUCKS!!! but do wear your helmet. how bout that?

[rocker]

Originally posted by Kham
LAW SUCKS!!! but do wear your helmet. how bout that?

If people don't wear helmets it just helps weed out the gene pool for future generations.