We have laws here in the United States requiring seat belts, air bags, child car seats, smoke detectors, lights on bicycles operated at night, and a whole range of other safety devices. So, it makes sense that there would be a safety law in place to protect the motorcycle riders as well. When a motorcycle is a vehicle operated on a public roadway, its rider and passenger is subject to the same rights and obligations as other vehicle operators traveling on the same roads. If it is reasonable to require car seats for children, airbags in vehicles and the use of car seatbelts, requiring motorcycle helmets is also reasonable. Starting in at least the 1920’s, motorcycle racers were already using crash helmets. Motorcycle helmets became more …show more content…
The arguments stated the helmet laws violated the equal protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment, constituted an infringement on the motorcyclist’s liberty and an excessive use of the state’s police power, violated the due process, equal protection and right to privacy provisions of the federal constitution, and was discriminatory against motorcyclists. (Bayer) Yet others put up the argument that helmets would increase spinal cord injuries, make it harder for the riders to see or hear as well and that the helmets were too hot to wear. (Knudson) In 1975, following tremendous pressure, national lobbying and a hearing held in July by the House Committee on Public Works and Transportation to discuss the National Safety Act, representatives and senators began to support revisions to remove the connection between federal highway construction funding and the state helmet laws. (Knudson & Bayer) On May 5, 1976 President Ford signed a bill making those revisions a reality. (Bayer) In this aspect, the motorcyclists were in a way, following the advice of Thoreau in Civil Disobedience when he said “Cast your whole vote, not a strip of paper merely, but your whole influence. A minority is powerless while it conforms to the majority; it is not even a minority then; but it is irresistible when it clogs by its whole weight.” In this instance, that whole weight enacted the change they were seeking. Over the next three
the helmet covers your whole face and head in order to protect you face from getting kicked in the face after getting bucked off. wearing a helmet is required if you are under 19 years of age. i feel that the helmet should be required for all ages.( in bull-riding you try to stay on a wild, 2,000 pound bull, some with horns the size of my arm. These bulls have tight straps around there butt to make them kick and jump harder. And all you have to hold on to is a single rope. if you fall of, the bull can stomp, trample, or horn you, and you could break bones from the fall (bull riding, 2015). So in the case of safety i feel that helmets should be required for all ages and at all
3 states (Illinois, Iowa and New Hampshire) that do not have any helmet requirements at
No helmet, no safety clothing, what is the world coming too? Wearing safe clothing is an issue but not wearing a helmet is just absolute nonsense. The clothing is as important as a helmet since it is reflective or padded to protect major organs and even joints and bones. According to the Department of Transport most injuries to cyclists are to the shoulders, arms and
Should people under the age of 18 be required to wear a protective helmet while skateboarding, in-line skating, bicycling, snowboarding and skiing? I believe truly believe so. The thrill in these activities, are to speed jump tricks and ride.
I don't see any reason to wear a helmet when I ride a bike. Everyone bikes without a helmet.
Many advocates believe the choice to wear a helmet or not should be their own decision. They argue that the government should not be interfering in the matter and view their involvement makes it unconstitutional. In my opinion, the constitution does not give the right for everyone to do as they please. A paper presented at The International Motorcycle Safety Conference in Washington DC states that “The public interest, not interests of a particular person or group, requires interference with individual rights” Obviously the choice is not always our own. The government has the responsibility to protect its citizens from their own choices that cause unnecessary harm.
1. Motorcycle helmet laws save lives: Death rates from head injuries, such as traumatic, are twice as high among motorcyclists in states without all-rider helmet laws. And motorcycle helmets are 37 percent effective in preventing motorcyclist deaths and 67 percent effective in preventing brain
4. Although helmets are important for the bikers themselves, the most important reason for repealing this new law is the increased burden placed on the shoulders of the taxpayers. Helmetless riders are three times as likely to need hospital care because of head injuries and four times as likely to have sustained severe or critical head trauma (Rowland 3-4). Brain injuries caused by riding without a helmet are extremely expensive when it comes time for treatment and rehabilitation. Motorcycle insurance policies do not usually cover the injuries sustained by a rider involved in an accident (Wlazelek 3). Treatment for a motorcyclist with
In the past, helmets were known to come off easily. The rider's jaw was exposed, and
Many people think that to wear a helmet should a personal desition and should be not mandatory. After all, if harm is cause for not wearing a helmet, it will be a personal harm and no a general harm for society, “People have the right to chose their own poison” (Rosenstand, 255).
This is usually an issue as everyone who rides a motorcycle wears leather, to protect themselves incase they fall of, as leather is tough and is quiet resistant to tearing. Many people also go to bars and if they are going by themselves a motorcycle is cheaper to get around.
In several states, all motorcyclists have to use helmets. In others, only some people under a certain age have to use helmets. Just two states don't practice any helmet law in any way: Illinois and Iowa.
These statistics do not only apply to motorcyclists, however. Riders of mopeds and bicycles also see a reduced fatality rate when helmet laws are enforced. According to Meehan, et al., rates of bicycle-related fatalities were lower in states with helmet laws. This was especially apparent among children under the age of 16 where the incidence was 2/1,000,000 in states with helmet laws versus 2.5/1,000,000 in states without the laws (727). While this
While some may argue that motorcycle helmets take away their freedom on the road and oppose their constitutional rights; helmets should be required to be worn by all motorcycle riders because they prevent skull, brain, and spinal cord injuries. Helmets prevent wind and debris from getting in the driver’s eyes, and its costs tax payers less money to treat helmets wearers than non-helmet wearers.
Legal factors: Legislation enforces all the motorcycle riders to wear a helmet when on a motorcycle and if found without one, fines are applied. Financial incentives for the states were repealed by the Congress wherever universal helmet laws were not enforced. Licensing of motorcycles is required to be done again in the city even if it had been done once in the suburbs. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is responsible for regulation of automobile and motorcycle emissions.