Man dies after motorcycle crashes during helmet protest ride

[robmpreston]

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

Let those who Ride, Decide.

You're purposely leaving out the most important part of that stat. What percentage of riders wear helmets? If it's something like 70%+ of them, then your data is skewed because obviously more would die with helmets on.

 

[YumYum]

Impressive comment on the article.



Helmets break necks at high speed.

If a helmet is not on tight, it can act like a parachute when a biker looks up going at high speeds and fling him back. I've had it happen.

 

[MelissaWV]

You're purposely leaving out the most important part of that stat. What percentage of riders wear helmets? If it's something like 70%+ of them, then your data is skewed because obviously more would die with helmets on.

But if helmets are such a glorious panacea that they must be mandated in order to save lives, that "skew" wouldn't show up. Or is it a given that they are ineffective in many kinds of crashes?

* * *

The important number, if you were personally deciding, would be what percentage of those who didn't die in accidents owe their lives to their helmets, and whether or not you really want to worry about your skull when you are being tossed around into a roadway and possibly breaking bones you didn't even know you had.

 

[Anti Federalist]

But if helmets are such a glorious panacea that they must be mandated in order to save lives, that "skew" wouldn't show up. Or is it a given that they are ineffective in many kinds of crashes?

Beat me to it, thank you.

 

[ronpaulitician]

"When I wear a helmet, I can drive faster and take more risks, because I'm protected."

 

[AZKing]

Those are all pretty generalized statistics. A guy with a helmet dies, but what kind of accident is it? What speed was he going? I wouldn't expect either a helmeted or non helmeted biker to live in accident when a semi truck going 70mph hits him.

 

[Travlyr]

People riding on two wheels are more likely to crash than people riding in four wheel vehicles. Motorcycle helmets are not the same as bicycle helmets because they are heavier, larger in circumference, block vision, and will vibrate at high speeds, as well as, heat-up a rider's head on hot days. They have never been proven safer than going without. Avoiding the accident is the best prevention to avoiding injury.

 

[AGRP]

What good are helmets if the rest of the body is vulnerable?

I propose full body suits:

 

[pcosmar]

You're purposely leaving out the most important part of that stat. What percentage of riders wear helmets? If it's something like 70%+ of them, then your data is skewed because obviously more would die with helmets on.

I posted the link.
I am purposely doing nothing, other than providing the information.
http://www.webbikeworld.com/Motorcycle-Safety/crash.htm

1998 Motorcycle Accident Statistics:

2,284 motorcyclists died and approximately 49,000 were injured in highway crashes in the United States.

Per mile traveled in 1998, a motorcyclist is approximately 16 times more likely to die in a crash than an automobile occupant. And 3x (times) as likely to be injured.

Head injury is a leading cause of death in motorcycle crashes.

In 1998, 46% of fatally injured motorcycle drivers were not wearing helmets at the time of the crash.
This means 54% were wearing helmets. more than half.
NHTSA estimates that motorcycle helmets reduce the likelihood of a fatality by 29% in a crash.

In 1998, 41% of all motorcycle drivers involved in fatal crashes were speeding.
That means 59% were NOT speeding
Nearly one out of five motorcycle drivers (18%) involved in fatal crashes in 1998 was operating with an invalid license at the time of the collision.
82% were licensed drivers

Motorcycle drivers involved in fatal crashes in 1998 had higher intoxication rates than any other type of motor vehicle driver at 31%.
Those statistics are in question
In 1998, 500 motorcyclists lives were saved due to helmet usage; 307 could have been saved.
Arbitrary opinion

oops,, I said 1996,,it is 1998

 

[Velho]

What's wrong with you people.. Nobody here is disputing the fact that people should be allowed to decide for themselves. Drive safely, and you might not need the helmet. But accidents happen. I've fallen down with a bike, and without a helmet I could be dead right now. I hit the back of my head to the road and the helmet cracked... But I got out of it with some poop in my pants, if you know what I mean.

 

[Anti Federalist]

What's wrong with you people.. Nobody here is disputing the fact that people should be allowed to decide for themselves. Drive safely, and you might not need the helmet. But accidents happen. I've fallen down with a bike, and without a helmet I could be dead right now. I hit the back of my head to the road and the helmet cracked... But I got out of it with some poop in my pants, if you know what I mean.

There are a couple of old timers and bikers in this thread that not only approach this from a "freedom of choice" issue, but also have real world experience that causes doubts about the efficacy of helmets and in fact view them as a dangerous hindrance rather than a help.

I happen to be one of them.

 

[Velho]

There are a couple of old timers and bikers in this thread that not only approach this from a "freedom of choice" issue, but also have real world experience that causes doubts about the efficacy of helmets and in fact view them as a dangerous hindrance rather than a help.

I happen to be one of them.

My real world experience happens to say otherwise.

 

[Anti Federalist]

My real world experience happens to say otherwise.

Thus, no mandates, and nobody is an "idiot" for doing one or the other.

 

[pcosmar]

I happen to be one of them.

I'm another.

Come on folks ,,post your bike.

Or your skid lid.

btw,, NOT DOT approved.

 

[Velho]

Thus, no mandates, and nobody is an "idiot" for doing one or the other.

Sorry about that, I guess I was overpowered by my own experience and generalized on that... Though I still won't ride without a helmet.

 

[pcosmar]

Sorry about that, I guess I was overpowered by my own experience and generalized on that... Though I still won't ride without a helmet.

That is a valid choice. I usually wear one.
But I like the freedom to remove it at my discretion.

 

[Velho]

That is a valid choice. I usually wear one.
But I like the freedom to remove it at my discretion.

Yes and I totally agree with you on that. Where I come from it's mandatory to wear a helmet even when riding a bicycle, (there's no punishment though, so it's not enforced..) the world can be a fooked up place.

 

[LibForestPaul]

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

I never wore a bicycle helmet when young...your point? Riding a motorcycle is stupid, driving a Honda Fit is stupid? He had an accident and died, like 50k others every year.

 

[Anti Federalist]

I don't have a scanned copy of any of my rides...In fact, Broadzilla (the ex wife) has all my hard copies and probably tossed them out years ago.

But the first looked almost exactly like this, in black:

The second looked like this:

The third and last one, that I never completed, I was hoping would turn out like this:

 

[pcosmar]

Yes and I totally agree with you on that. Where I come from it's mandatory to wear a helmet even when riding a bicycle, (there's no punishment though, so it's not enforced..) the world can be a fooked up place.

There wasn't when I grew up. Such things didn't even exist.
And I survived many bicycle crashes. i fell out of some trees too.
That is how you learn not to.