Man dies after motorcycle crashes during helmet protest ride

[RonPaulFanInGA]

http://www.9wsyr.com/news/local/sto...hes-during-helmet/3hjcjSPXsUCsrtyM9cBn0g.cspx

LAFAYETTE, NY (WSYR-TV) – New York State Troopers say one man is dead after a motorcycle crash near McClary Road and Route 11 in LaFayette on Saturday.

New York State Police say 55-year-old Philip Contos of Parish was part of a protest against motorcycle helmets.

Police say several motorists from the group ABATE (American Bikers Aimed for Education) of Onondaga County had come together to make a point that they didn't need their helmets.

The group was driving south on Route 11 in Lafayette around 1:30 p.m., headed toward Lake Como, just south of the Finger Lakes.

Police say Contos suddenly hit the brakes and lost control of the motorcycle.

According to troopers, Contos was thrown over his handlebars and hit the pavement as his 1993 Harley Davidson motorcycle skidded toward the guardrail.

Contos was still alive when crews arrived at the scene and was transported to Upstate University Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

According to police, Contos was not wearing his helmet, as required by law. Witnesses say this decision was part of the protest.

Police say that based on evidence at the scene and from doctors, Contos would have survived if he had been wearing a DOT-Approved helmet.

 

[MelissaWV]

Classic example of inadvertantly hurting your cause.

Of course, he paid for his decision all by his lonesome, and no one was hurt but the person who decided to go without a helmet.

 

[Anti Federalist]

ABATE (American Bikers Aimed for Education)

Pussies.

When I belonged to ABATE back in the day, it stood for A Brotherhood Against Totalitarian Enactments.

That said, I'm sure the nanny staters are chuckling with glee over this one.

Too bad.

 

[showpan]

Tragic, he died while protesting his freedoms that have been taken away. R.I.P.

 

[sailingaway]

Soda whoosis already has a poll up of whether in light of this, everyone should be required to wear helmets. It was far too close so I tweeted it. In case anyone is in the mood: http://bit.ly/kIso5L

 

[pcosmar]

In 1998, 46% of fatally injured motorcycle drivers were not wearing helmets at the time of the crash.
http://www.webbikeworld.com/Motorcycle-Safety/crash.htm


That means that 54% of fatalities were wearing helmets.

 

[RonPaulCult]

I believe in the right to be stupid, and not wearing a helmet is pretty stupid. It sucks the guy died though.

 

[brushfire]

People make poor choices, but it doesn't mean that the government makes better choices on people's behalf. RIP - freedom fighter!

 

[Velho]

Forcing people to wear a helmet is weird... Not wearing a helmet is stupid... Why wouldn't you do it? I'd never ride a bike without a helmet. Then again, I always wear full protection (head, hands, wrists, knees, elbows) when rollerskating...

 

[AZKing]

Pretty ironic. The guy was an idiot for not wanting to wear a helmet, but I agree that it's none of the goobermint's business. Still, even if it wasn't a law you wouldn't catch me riding a motorcycle without a helmet.

 

[Anti Federalist]

Pretty ironic. The guy was an idiot for not wanting to wear a helmet, but I agree that it's none of the goobermint's business. Still, even if it wasn't a law you wouldn't catch me riding a motorcycle without a helmet.

Why not in a four wheel vehicle as well?

Why not in your shower?

Or on your stairs?

 

[pcosmar]

I have known several people killed while wearing helmets.
And one that was a paraplegic BECAUSE of his helmet. He could no longer support his family, and they lost their home. The insurance would not pay, because he lived.

Sad situation, would have been better for all had he died. (he did eventually from complications, but it destroyed the family)

 

[Travlyr]

Impressive comment on the article.

deathbyhelmet - 3:40 PM

ATTENTION all self righteous motorcycle helmet "experts", I seemed to have missed all your comments on the previous 4415 fatalities who were wearing helmets in New York State since 1967. I can see from the postings here that helmets are a very emotional issue with both rider and non-riders so let the TRUTH be known. In 1966 the federal government the wish of one bureaucrat included helmets in the 1966 federal Highway Safety Act. This was done due to a report that stated there would be a 50% reduction in both injuries and fatalities. States were coerced into passing this legislation under a threatened loss of 10% of their highway funds, blackmail. After research by NYS a special report(1969-1) was released which stated that "BECAUSE OF THE MAGNITUDE OF FORCES PRESENT WHEN A MOTORCYCLIST IS KILLED OR INJURED IT IS NOT REASONABLE TO EXPECT ANY DEGREE OF PROTECTION FROM A HELMET". The report also cited the fact that the very first year of the law there was a rise in the death and injury rates (a statistic that is not affected by new riders, the weather or economy) which was attributed to the 750% increase in broken necks. The head is involved 15% of the time before helmets and 14% after with the leading cause of death being ruptured hearts and internal injuries at 67%. In 1975 Congress repealed the federal helmet law and has forbidden the USDOT and NHTSA from lobbying state legislatures on this issue and this year dropped mandatory helmet wearing from their 10 most wanted wish list. All you "experts" probably are not aware that helmet laws have been repealed in 30 states with Michigan soon to be the 31st and guess what, the "free" states have impressive safety records as opposed to the helmeted states with NY being the most unsafe. You see what started out as a figment of a bureaucrats imagination backed by millions wasted on untrue propaganda could not sustain the obvious, it is better to prevent an involvement rather then rely on a helmet. Repeal NY helmets now!

Helmets break necks at high speed.

 

[AZKing]

Why not in a four wheel vehicle as well?

Why not in your shower?

Or on your stairs?

My car has a seatbelt and an airbag, as well as crumple zones. My shower is a tiny cubicle and it's impossible to fall down. I don't really have stairs, other than my deck.

As with everything, I take precautions when driving. I don't drive speed limit or wear my seatbelt or don't tailgate people because I'm afraid of getting a ticket, I do it because it genuinely increases safety. I don't put little non-slip strips in the bottom of my shower because it's a law, I put them down so I don't slip and break something.

I don't care what people do when they get into a car or bike or shower or walk on their stairs. Just don't hurt anyone else and don't expect me to pay for your medical bills for the rest of your life. And that does happen. I briefly volunteered in a nursing home when I was younger and there was numerous young men who were permanently paralyzed from car accidents, and all of them were on state assistance.

 

[MelissaWV]

Why not in a four wheel vehicle as well?

Why not in your shower?

Or on your stairs?

Actually, I do think a lot of people ride 4-wheelers underprotected, though most of those deaths come from flips and crushing (so a helmet would just keep you alive longer to savor the suffering before your internal organs gave out). I don't think it should be a law.

Any helmet-law-friendly folks who insist that it "saves lives" should ask themselves why I see so many people riding, helmets on, wearing nothing but a sun dress or a pair of shorts and a tee shirt or other such thing. Maybe people won't die when they skid across the pavement skin-first (as opposed to covered in tougher materials like leather or certain types of denim)... but maybe they will. None of that is mandated here, though.

I think it's pretty dumb to ride a motorcycle without a helmet, given the kind of accidents you are likely to have if you ever have one, but that's for me to decide for myself and no other. (And yes, I also know they provide very little protection, but SOME would be worth it imo... and plus it would keep my hair from going all over the place. That's about it.)

 

[Velho]

Impressive comment on the article.



Helmets break necks at high speed.

And on the other hand significantly reduces chance of head injury..

 

[Travlyr]

And on the other hand significantly reduces chance of head injury..

Avoiding the accident in the first place is key to not being injured at all.

 

[pcosmar]

And on the other hand significantly reduces chance of head injury..

By the statistics in 1996.
More people died with helmets than without.

Let those who Ride, Decide.

 

[AGRP]

People still choose to live in NY?

 

[Anti Federalist]

People still choose to live in NY?

Well, more and more, they are voting with their feet.

How many congressional seats is NY due to lose this go around?

Trouble is, they leave, and just fuck things up as bad as they were back home, wherever they go.

Just like getting Californicated or invaded by Massholes.