Big Ben in accident

[RustyJC]

The way I see it, his face was a "crumple" zone. A helmet would have held him rigid and broke his neck. As it was, the brunt of the blow was used up mashing his face, ie useless parts!

I hope this statement is tongue-in-cheek.



If one doubts the value of a good helmet, look no farther than NASCAR, Formula 1, motocross, motorcycle road racing, drag racing, karting, etc. etc. etc. I don't think people wear these things (and the sanctioning bodies require them) to increase their chances of injury or death. Yes, riding a motorcycle is inherently more dangerous than driving a cage, so why not mitigate the increased risks as much as possible?



Rusty

 

[NPloysa]

Hey Nick!! I hear Communist China is looking for a few good men.



PA just got rid of that stupid law, next, axe the seatbelt law.



The way I see it, his face was a "crumple" zone. A helmet would have held him rigid and broke his neck. As it was, the brunt of the blow was used up mashing his face, ie useless parts!



Oh, there is only one thing stupider than riding with no helemt, I believe.



Riding a motorcycle in the first place.

Stupid to ride a motorcycle? Stupid, no. Risky, yes. It's yours and my tax dollars that have to keep these morons on life support because they choose not to protect their brain with a $200 helmet.



I agree that riding helmet-less is just Darwin at work. Let the screwballs get a face full of asphalt. Maybe helmet laws should be axed, but it wouldn't save any tax dollars. It's a catch 22.



Riding my BMW is a great pleasure, and while I may look goofy in my "snowmobile suit" I'd rather look goofy than completely mindless, i. e. , riding without a helmet, gloves, boots, pants, jacket.



Do you wear your seatbelt?



By the way, do you have any stats that say helmets break necks rather than save them?



Nick

 

[loncray]

I just heard on the radio today that deaths in motorcycle accidents in Florida have skyrocketed in the six years since Gov. Bush got rid of the previous mandatory helmet law.



http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,199986,00.html



Fatalities Have Soared in Florida Since Repeal of Motorcycle Helmet Law

Monday, June 19, 2006



MELBOURNE, Florida — Motorcycle fatalities involving riders without helmets have soared in Florida in the nearly six years since Gov. Jeb Bush repealed the state's mandatory helmet law, a newspaper reported Sunday.

A Florida Today analysis of federal motorcycle crash statistics found "unhelmeted" deaths in Florida rose from 22 in 1998 and 1999, the years before the helmet law repeal, to 250 in 2004, the most recent year of available data.

Total motorcycle deaths in the state have increased 67 percent, from 259 in 2000 to 432 in 2004, according to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration statistics.

Records, though, also show motorcycle registrations have increased 87 percent in Florida since Bush signed the helmet law repeal on July 1, 2000.

The debate over motorcycle helmet safety resurfaced last week when Pittsburgh Steelers football quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, an advocate of helmet-free riding, broke his jaw, nose and several teeth in an accident. He underwent seven hours of surgery.

Physicians and insurance companies say helmets are crucial safety gear.

 

[RustyJC]

Fatalities Have Soared in Florida Since Repeal of Motorcycle Helmet Law

Monday, June 19, 2006



... Total motorcycle deaths in the state have increased 67 percent... .



... . motorcycle registrations have increased 87 percent in Florida since Bush signed the helmet law repeal on July 1, 2000.....

Ummm, although as I stated earlier, I believe motorcycle riders should wear helmets, the statistics in this case do not appear to support the conclusion drawn in the headline - to wit, that the 67% increase in fatalities is a result of the repeal of the helmet law. In fact, one could use these numbers to argue that the fatality rate has decreased.



Rusty

 

[fkovalski]

... . the statistics in this case do not appear to support the conclusion drawn in the headline - to wit, that the 67% increase in fatalities is a result of the repeal of the helmet law. In fact, one could use these numbers to argue that the fatality rate has decreased.



Rusty

Thanks , Rusty... . you brought that out before I had the chance to do so.



Bottom line is that (as you stated) statistics can be manipulated to show off any thing that is not true,... i. e. Ford is number #1 in customer satisfaction (sic)... . In this case, the media is for governmental control of freedom loving citizens... hence, they WANT the helmet control laws (and gun control laws and other freedom control laws, etc. . ) Of course they will sk(r)ew the numbers to suit thier purpose.

 

[loncray]

Dang, you're right Rusty - that's what I get for citing Fox News! But I'd need to see the numbers behind the percentages - in other words, is the 87% increase in registrations a yearly number or a total number? The increase in deaths seems to be an average of yearly numbers - is the same true of the registrations number? Put it another way - are there 87% more registrations in Florida NOW than in 2000 or is the average increase in registrations PER YEAR 87% higher than in 2000? Does that make sense?

 

[RustyJC]

To really be accurate, we would need to see the change in the annual number of vehicle-miles during this period since fatality rates are normally expressed in terms of fatalities per million vehicle-miles traveled.



Rusty

 

[loncray]

Yes, absolutely.