I have a serious question for any motorcycle lovers that ride and dont wear helmets... WHY?? I have today, for what seems like the millionth time, had to watch someone die and a familys life destroyed b/c this person chose not to wear a helmet on his bike and flew headfirst into a wind shield. The Pt's brain was soooo swollen they couldnt even get the bone flap back on, or stich the dura back together....there was brain everywhere! Out the nose and Ears.. And then the pt's off the OR table only to die in PACU with a waiting room FULL of screaming crying family members..
I am not judging anyone, but rather trying to understand why someone would make the choice to not wear a helmet. Is it the feeling of freedom, or does the helmet restrict your head that much as to the point of discomfort?
My husband used to ride. He had his motorcycle for less than 6 months and lost it on a turn. Bike was totalled (sp?), luckily he only hurt his wrist. A guy he rode with was wearing a helmet but the helmet contributed to his skull splintering into his braid - dunno if he died or not, last I heard he was in a vegetative state. His best friend had been in numerous accidents and still continued to ride - in one accident he broke both hands, wrists & forearms & was casted past his elbows. Even after his wife had to wipe his butt everyday he tortured her even further by going out and getting a new bike after he healed - they're divorced.
Anyways, my husband now sells motorcycles but does not ride. They always say in their business that it's not a matter of whether or not a rider will be in an accident, it's when and how bad. He's been with the company for 2 years and thus far there have been 3 motorcycle accidents right in front of their store.
If you look at the NHTSA's website, they have a report that indicates since 1992, more fatalities have occurred with helmets worn. Granted it was like 45% no helmet, 55% helmet. Same for speeding: 37% not speeding, 63% speeding. Alcohol intoxication: 66% not intoxicated, 34% intoxicated. These were statistics for 2004. There's a lot more factors in their report like engine size, driver age, proper licensure, weekday vs. weekend, crash type, roadway type, etc.
I personally think a helmet is important and so does my husband but obviously others don't. I don't understand how most, if not all states, have and enforce the law that all bicycle riders must be helmeted. And yet motorcyclists don't have to. Where's the logic?
Personally I would rather be brain dead than paralyzed
While I can see the preference, it's not as if it's definitely one or the other if someone gets in an accident. Not wearing a helmet doesn't necessarily mean you'll die if you have an accident. Permanent brain damage is also a strong possibility.
I prefer a full helmet for comfort reasons as it acts as a windshield. While the wind in the hair effect can feel good and exciting, I don't like the wind blasting my eyes, mouth and ears. It makes it difficult for me to see and to maneuver my head to get good views. The air blasting past my ears makes it hard for me to hear as well. Smaller helmets can be a pain because they catch the wind, but a well-fitted full face helmet is aerodynamic and feels a part of me. For me, riding without a helmet for any extended period would be a discomfort because the constant wind in my face! I can, however, definitely empathize with the discomfort of a helmet when it's REALLY hot out. And helmets do nothing for hair fashion!
My experience is mostly street driving on scooters (eg Vespa), not highway riding. In slow speed accidents, a helmet can definitely help prevent superficial facial injuries/scarring as well as minimize head impact injuries. An unprotected head hitting the road even at fairly slow speeds can be bad. Probably why helmets for biking and skating are so highly promoted.
I usually wear a helmet. However there are times when I don't. I believe in helmets, I just don't feel that anyone else,(unless I'm a passenger, then the rider can) has the right to tell me I have to wear one. I also disagree with the mandatory seatbelt law, though I wear mine.
From personal experience, I have found some helmets do obstruct my vision and hearing. I have a full face helmet, which needs replaced due to age (of the helmet!), that I always wore. Then didn't wear one for a while, (either not riding or just short jaunts around town). Went to Missouri and wore the full face helmet. I couldn't see or hear as well with it on. New helmet will be either a 3/4 or half shell. I actually did a paper on the helmet laws probaly 5 yrs ago. The statistics at that time showed no real difference between helmeted riders vs non helmeted riders death rates due to no fault accidents. I personally know people who if they had been helmeted would now be dead, and also know people who if unhelmeted would be dead. There are timeswhen a helmet can actually cause further injury, but it can also save your life. Motorcycling is a choice, a lifestyle, and, if done with proper traing/education, is no more dangerous than many other choices people make. Cagers (car drivers) need to be educated as well. Many times they are the cause of the accident simply because they don't watch for bikes, misjudge speed, or just don't see them. As far as the cost goes....they say if you have a $10 head, then put a $10 helmet on it. As a nurse/ems person, I v'e seen people injured in car accidents many more times than a motorcyclist. I know that accidents happen, but at least around here a car accident,with serious injuries, is much more common. My sister is a State Trooper, and she says the same thing. Why people choose not to wear a helmet is as varied as why some people decide to be a nurse and some people decide to be a stockperson. My husband rides his bike to work almost daily, and wears a helmet. Never used to wear one, but does now. What changed his mind? Age, dropping his bike hard with one on, who truly knows? I don't question him, just glad that he wears one. My daughter is not allowed on the bike without one. We also do not ride in shorts or flipflops. Jeans, and solid shoes, preferably boots, are required.
Sorry this is so long, just got going. Bottom line, it should remain personal choice. Do I advocate wearing a helmet? YES. Should the govt be able to say I have to? NO
I ride with my boyfriend, a very experienced rider. I wear a helmet and he does not. He says if they make helmet mandatory again he won't ride anymore. His reasoning is that it interferes with visability, hearing, and the enjoyment of the wind in your hair. I have riden without and my safety obsessiveness would never let me fully enjoy the ride. Although I think if you are in a bad accident your chances are slim to none with or without. Motorcycle accidents seem to fall into three categories: people not seeing them and hitting them(in which case hearing and seeing others would be the upmost of importance in avoiding these), alcohol/substance related, and speeding.
Personally I would rather be brain dead than paralyzed
Of course for me some will say there isnt that much brain, just a golf ball
Here's another angle on this as well. I'd rather be paralyzed with my brain (and my cognitive skills) and head and face intact than massively brain damaged with a caved in skull and a surgically reconstructed face.
While I can still see why one might opt against a helmet, I don't know how strong the the brain death vs c-spine injury argument is. I guess if you're usually riding at high speeds on hard roads, then brain death might be the most likely outcome of an accident without a helmet.
He says if they make helmet mandatory again he won't ride anymore. His reasoning is that it interferes with visability, hearing, and the enjoyment of the wind in your hair.
I can see where if you've always ridden without a helmet, to transition to wearing one could be dangerous. The change could leave you vulnerable as your usual methods of avoiding danger - certain visual and auditory cues - would be different.
I'd think, though, that if one has learned to ride with a helmet, that they can then development the necessary skills to avoid accidents despite the visual and auditory differences in perception. As I mentioned, I can't hear very well when I'm not wearing a helmet because I'm not used hearing the wind in my ears and it distracts me from hearing the traffic noise. It's like riding on the freeway with your windows open. I find that terribly distracting and if my A/C is out, I go back and forth between windows up and down when on a highway because I don't like the noise of leaving the windows open despite it being cooler.
Visually, I need at least goggles to see because otherwise I end up squinting when driving fast on a cycle, even with sunglasses. So, again, for me, a full face helmet, with the windshield down works best for me when traveling at relatively fast speeds. The full helmet also helps protects my face/neck/ears from sunburn! And no bugs on the teeth or down the gullet!
Calling people 'idiots' is unnecessary. What about other risky behaviors? How about fat diabetics, do you call them 'idiots'? How about people with long commutes? Mountain climbers? How about people who eat a lot of fast food? Are they idiots? What about nurses who don't get enough sleep, drink too much coffee, and eat a lot of junk at work? Are they idiots?
Specializes in Peds Cardiology,Peds Neuro,Pedi ER,PICU, IV Jedi.
I can see this is a hotly debated issue, but as a motorcyclist with well over 200,000 miles riding on my two bikes heres my take...
I never, ever ride without a helmet. Why? Because helmets save lives, plain and simple. I've been in two accidents on my bikes, none of which caused any serious injury thank God.
But working as an EMT and paramedic I've seen patients who are alive to tell their horrific stories because they wore their helmets. One patient we had years ago could literally have been rolled up into a ball he was so broken. But he survived, partially due to Virginia's mandatory helmet law. Right now I live in Texas, a large state with no helmet law. Just the other day a motorcyclist died in front of a restaurant my kids love to eat at. Inexperience, big bike, no helmet...dead.
You might be able to use that argument about "rather be dead than paralyzed, rather be dead than brain dead" ...whatever. I'd rather take my chances and wear my helmet, increasing my chances of living through an accident with my facilities intact by what...60%??
And I absolutely think that states have the right to legislate what should be common sense, especially to those of us on this board. Laws are written to save people from their own stupidity, like seat belt and helmet laws. You would think they're just common sense - but it's plainly obvious to most that anywhere you go, common sense is lacking.
I don't care that you don't like to wear your helmet. I don't like seeing the inside of someone's head when I'm headed home from church with my family. And the chances of that happening increase 100% if you're not wearing your helmet and you're involved in an accident.
I read someone's post about "wind in his hair"...how about wind in your ears?? You can't hear squat when you're riding at highway speeds with no helmet, unless you've got earplugs in, and you have to strain even then....personally I hate the wind in my ears. Having ridden bicycles competitively at much lower speeds I detest it. Riding at highway speeds with no helmet is ridiculous.
Bottom line is: Helmets save lives. Everyone who rides a motorcycle puts their life in the hands of brain dead box jockeys every day. Why take a chance?? People who drive are unaware of motorcyclists becuase they're too busy doing everything like drinking their half decaf latte while talking on the cell phone and smoking a marlboro light. Nothing will get you a one finger salute faster than cutting a motorcyclist off / turning left in front of them while doing any of the above. God forbid you actually have to lay your bike down because of them, your helmet is a superb ally in your fight against devastating injury.
Do I advocate wearing a helmet? YES. Should the govt be able to say I have to? NO
For those who believe that the government has no right to mandate helmets may I assume that you are prepared to pay for the medical treatment and long term care associated with the TBI for which you are at increased risk? Or will you have to rely on the government (read: taxpayers) to pay for it? If it is the latter I find it funny how it's not okay for the government to "interfere" with your personal choice but it's just fine for the government to pay for the results of said choice. Don't get me wrong, as I posted before I don't think motorcyclists should be singled out. I think anybody with a preventable/manageable disease should be required to take some personal responsibility in their health and if they choose not to then they should have to deal with it on their own.
For those who believe that the government has no right to mandate helmets may I assume that you are prepared to pay for the medical treatment and long term care associated with the TBI for which you are at increased risk? Or will you have to rely on the government (read: taxpayers) to pay for it? If it is the latter I find it funny how it's not okay for the government to "interfere" with your personal choice but it's just fine for the government to pay for the results of said choice. Don't get me wrong, as I posted before I don't think motorcyclists should be singled out. I think anybody with a preventable/manageable disease should be required to take some personal responsibility in their health and if they choose not to then they should have to deal with it on their own.
I'm not speaking for all in this thread who are against mandatory helmet/seat belt laws, but I certainly don't expect nor want the government to pay for my medical care at all, and that includes any traumatic brain injuries that may occur because of a choice I made. I take full responsibility for my actions. I think you can find my full answer to the same question on the bottom of the fourth page, if you are so inclined.
Specializes in VASCULAR, MED SURG, GERI, CLINIC, REHAB.
geesh biker nurse....im a ten year tbi and still living but i was in a car got hit by a speeder who ran a red light .helmet or not id been dead on a bike . biker is a way of life .alcohol is supposedly in the 50% for tbis mine was not . cant ride in a car with out a seatbelt, can ride a motorcycle with out a helmet after one year experience , choice is freedom.
Specializes in VASCULAR, MED SURG, GERI, CLINIC, REHAB.
geesh biker nurse....im a ten year tbi and still living but i was in a car got hit by a speeder who ran a red light .helmet or not id been dead on a bike . biker is a way of life .alcohol is supposedly in the 50% for tbis mine was not . cant ride in a car with out a seatbelt, can ride a motorcycle with out a helmet after one year experience , choice is freedom. i choose not to recap my needles ,40 up 40 down the rest is borrowed time:uhoh21:
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juliachloe
34 Posts
My husband used to ride. He had his motorcycle for less than 6 months and lost it on a turn. Bike was totalled (sp?), luckily he only hurt his wrist. A guy he rode with was wearing a helmet but the helmet contributed to his skull splintering into his braid - dunno if he died or not, last I heard he was in a vegetative state. His best friend had been in numerous accidents and still continued to ride - in one accident he broke both hands, wrists & forearms & was casted past his elbows. Even after his wife had to wipe his butt everyday he tortured her even further by going out and getting a new bike after he healed - they're divorced.
Anyways, my husband now sells motorcycles but does not ride. They always say in their business that it's not a matter of whether or not a rider will be in an accident, it's when and how bad. He's been with the company for 2 years and thus far there have been 3 motorcycle accidents right in front of their store.
If you look at the NHTSA's website, they have a report that indicates since 1992, more fatalities have occurred with helmets worn. Granted it was like 45% no helmet, 55% helmet. Same for speeding: 37% not speeding, 63% speeding. Alcohol intoxication: 66% not intoxicated, 34% intoxicated. These were statistics for 2004. There's a lot more factors in their report like engine size, driver age, proper licensure, weekday vs. weekend, crash type, roadway type, etc.
I personally think a helmet is important and so does my husband but obviously others don't. I don't understand how most, if not all states, have and enforce the law that all bicycle riders must be helmeted. And yet motorcyclists don't have to. Where's the logic?