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A look at public policies and motorcycle safety in the US

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Hanko
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I ran across this article on Physorg and thought the information was somewhat interesting.

Thought you might enjoy discussing the contents of the article.

A look at public policies and motorcycle safety in the US

Henry
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2slim
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I always thought there were 50 states. Man, I've gotta pay more attention......


According to the study, the most significant policy in reducing both fatal and non-fatal motorcycle injuries is the universal helmet laws. The findings indicate that about 489 lives could have been saved if universal helmet laws were in effect in
all 48 states in 2005. The researchers also found that mandatory rider education programs can reduce non-fatal motorcycle injuries.
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:gunhead:

All joking aside....interesting article. Thanks Hanko!
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exavid
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Don't be silly there are 57 states.:cooldevil:
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Flyone
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exavid wrote:
Don't be silly there are 57 states.:cooldevil:
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Actually Paul, there are 58 states as I am always in a state of confusion! :D
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cubix
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Although interesting in some light, I found the articleindicative of nothing more than desk jockeys justifying their jobs...it sounds like they took a lot of statistics and are makingclaims that will possiblylead theway for more control of the few freedoms we have left. I wear a helmet daily (along with other safety gear),but I don't want thefreedom to not wearto wearonetaken away. It would be just one more way of the government andbig businessgetting into our personal lives.

If they want to make riders wear helmets and relieve the insurance companies of liability (for that's what this is all about IMHO), make the law read that if you have a head injury while riding a motorcycle and not wearing a helmet, then your insurance company doesn't have to cover your head injury.

But then they're going to want us to wear leathers, boots, gloves, armor plating, training wheels, have air bags, automatic transmissions, etc. and eventually we might as wellbe in a car and still have high insurance rates. And I know that a lot of folks wear all the gear all the time and I'm not belittling that choice, butwe should still beable to make our ownchoices and live with the consequences.

After all, it seems insurance is just a gambling game...we're betting we'll have an accident (we put our money up and they hold it) and they're betting we don't (they don't put up any). If we don't have an accident, they're happy...they keep the money. If we have an accident, they have set the rates where they still make a fortune and are happy...and in Texas, you're required to have insurance.

OK, I'll get off my rant/stump now and think about scaring the crap out of the little goblins tomorrow night...Happy Halloween!:pumpkin::D
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Cousin Jack
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Dah-ta-dah-ta-dum............

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dirt devil
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Flyone wrote:
exavid wrote:
Don't be silly there are 57 states.:cooldevil:
Click to expand...
Actually Paul, there are 58 states as I am always in a state of confusion! :D
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Me Too Me Too!



What were we talking about?:?
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ScooterTramp
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cubix wrote:
Although interesting in some light, I found the articleindicative of nothing more than desk jockeys justifying their jobs...it sounds like they took a lot of statistics and are makingclaims that will possiblylead theway for more control of the few freedoms we have left. I wear a helmet daily (along with other safety gear),but I don't want thefreedom to not wearto wearonetaken away. It would be just one more way of the government andbig businessgetting into our personal lives.

If they want to make riders wear helmets and relieve the insurance companies of liability (for that's what this is all about IMHO), make the law read that if you have a head injury while riding a motorcycle and not wearing a helmet, then your insurance company doesn't have to cover your head injury.

But then they're going to want us to wear leathers, boots, gloves, armor plating, training wheels, have air bags, automatic transmissions, etc. and eventually we might as wellbe in a car and still have high insurance rates. And I know that a lot of folks wear all the gear all the time and I'm not belittling that choice, butwe should still beable to make our ownchoices and live with the consequences.

After all, it seems insurance is just a gambling game...we're betting we'll have an accident (we put our money up and they hold it) and they're betting we don't (they don't put up any). If we don't have an accident, they're happy...they keep the money. If we have an accident, they have set the rates where they still make a fortune and are happy...and in Texas, you're required to have insurance.

OK, I'll get off my rant/stump now and think about scaring the crap out of the little goblins tomorrow night...Happy Halloween!:pumpkin::D
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Yeah, I'd have to agree with you.....

econometric techniques? .... Guess they have to do something with all that education. Econometrics? That has a lot to do with helmets.
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T
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CJ that makes me want to put my open face in the trash.
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Wingle
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Cousin Jack that's a gougeous helmet.
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IdahoRaider
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Flyone wrote:
exavid wrote:
Don't be silly there are 57 states.:cooldevil:
Click to expand...
Actually Paul, there are 58 states as I am always in a state of confusion! :D
Click to expand...
At least you know which State you are in ! :?
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Dusty Boots
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exavid wrote:
Don't be silly there are 57 states.:cooldevil:
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Actually Paul, by your way of thinking, there are 58 states .... and 3 territories :2finger:
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tjradphilly
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I agree that you should wear a helmet. However, I feel we have the right to choose not to. I'm sick of people at least in my country trying to protect me from myself. STOP IT already. These studies and articles are about making money in various ways as stated in others posts. Just my 2 cents worth.
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Foodman
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On the other hand when the helmet law went into effect across the country hearts available for transplant dropped 38%..
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RadioMan98
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Well this is what gets my goat, is here in Missouri, the Yahoos that ride the 49cc scooters dont have to wear a helmet, and dont have to get a motorcycle licence. The are running in the same traffic, running smaller less easily seen machines, and they dont have to follow the laws for motorcycles. GRRRRRRRRRR pisses me off.
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Wingle
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I still think riding without a helmet is dangerous, I have ridden in the past without one. I remember a guy back home who rode a yellow Honda CB400F with a tweed cap and a leather jacket.

None of us ever want to come off and most of us ride defensively and some aggressively but there are so many accidents that happen that are not our fault that wearing one at least reduces the amount of damage your head and face could receive in an accident. Oh I know they are heavy can be uncomfortable and get dirty inside but in my experience have saved me from serious injury at least three times.

This probably may not ever happen to you but in 1974 I was riding home on my Kawasaki for lunch when a golf ball hit me at about 120 miles an hour on my forehead, it ricochet off and hit the window of a house I was passing about ninety feet away. The open face helmet saved my head, face, brain, and left eye all at once. The helmet was toast, had a big ding in it.

I know that this all comes from BIG BROTHER getting his nose into our daily lives, sometimes government do silly things. In the eighties the French were going to introduce seat belts on motorcycles. They used some police officers as test pilots if you will, many of them were killed or seriously injured because they were tethered to the bike. Usually when you have a prang especially when you slide off a bike you part company and hopefully the bike goes oneway and you the other. These guys were still attached and some died. They scrapped the idea.

It's useful having organisations like AMA (http://www.ama-cycle.org/) here or the BMF(http://www.bmf.co.uk/home/index.php) in Britain to look out for us in the halls of power and they are worthy of our support.
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IdahoRaider
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tjradphilly wrote:
I agree that you should wear a helmet. However, I feel we have the right to choose not to. I'm sick of people at least in my country trying to protect me from myself. STOP IT already. These studies and articles are about making money in various ways as stated in others posts. Just my 2 cents worth.
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I have lived in States with helmet laws and States without. I currently live in a State without. I often do not wear a helmet and am trying to put into words the reason.

First I think it is comfort, most Helmets are not that comfortable. Secondly I think the ride is more enjoyable in many cases. Lastly just because I do not have to as simple as that may sound.



Over the years (actually decades....ouch) I have lost several that went down. All but one person was wearing a Helmet. My friend Donny went down at the beginning of the summer. He was riding alone and was found on the side of the road. When the story was read in the newspaper they promptly listed him not wearing a helmet, eluding that the reason was such. Some 6 weeks later we found out he had a massive stroke, and was dead before the accident happened.



I am not at all against Motorcycle helmets. I do believe people should have the right to choose their own way in life though. I have a friend that rides much differently when he wears a helmet, or does not. I noticed this not to long ago and pointed it out to him. When he had his helmet on he tended to ride faster, take corners faster, pass more often. When I pointed this out to him he said he did not realize it. We both agreed that the Helmet might be giving him a false sense of security.



Just because you have a helmet on does not mean you won't die. Far from it.



o.k. now I know what you guys are talking about when a rant happens.



I'm done.
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boscoporp
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I always wear my half helmet! i ride a Trike wit twice the amounts of lights as most two wheelers. That includes a modulating headlight and a wig wag tail light. I am sure that most of the accidents begin with someone in a cage not seeing a motorcycle. I think that i am safer with my equipment that a full face helmet! Just my opinion, but I am only responsible for taking care of myself and my passengers!

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clarkjh
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I always wear a full face now, not because it is law here but because in the one wreck I did have my 3/4 was ripped from my head. I woke up 4 feet from a telephone pole, don't know if I hit it or not. I have also had road rash, not from a bike. I wear all my gear all the time, then if I die, it was my time.

James
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Wingle
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Well I ride for all kinds of reasons, but mainly it' s for pleasure. I started riding when I was About 16 or 17. My aunt gave me her old helmet with her Puch 50. It was a two tone blue and beige open face with a leathette trim behind the back of the neck. I really liked that helmet with it's adjustable straps and cork interior .

My first ride out on it I hit a parked car, went over the bars onto the hood, helmet saved me. Next time I was riding my Kawasaki, a friend ran in between my backwheel and the exhaust taking me down on fine gravel on a corner. I spun on the right footrest and hit my head against the front fender of an ambulance. Next time I came off I ripped my right foot off, bent my forks and hit the back window of a Morris 1100 with my head. A few years later I came off around the corner from the police station at Harcourt Terrace and slid into the canal head first. Came off outside Arklow on my first MZ on gravel on a bend and went into the river just gravel rash this time. There have been numerous other ones, mainly due to ignorance and poor tires and perennial rain fall on a city's greasy streets.
When I look back on my 750,000 s or so miles of bike riding I needed those helmets and they saved my ugly looks from being wiped away. Maybe I should just stick to sidecar riding!!
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