Protective Clothing

[Guest]

I was just wondering.

In view of the strong feelings on this forum regarding the wearing of protective clothing, is there a case to make it a requirement by law ?

[techno]

Hell fire, NO NO NO! Helmet law is enough we have enough bloody laws Ffs!

Hope i made my feelings clear!

[Netmeister]

There doesn't need to be a law IMO. If someone is stupid enough not to wear protective gear knowing the consequences then good luck to them, but if they bin it then tough titties. I'm sure they'll wear the right gear after that.

[Mk5Centurion]

I'm with Techno on this - helmets yes thats ok..anything else NO!

Our freedom to make our own choices and to live our lives the way we want and to accept the consequences of our actions are what seperates us from the Americans.

[TC1474]

How would you police and enforce it?

I see too regularly people who have had an accident and their brand name protective clothing which cost them a fortune has actuually made their injuries worse.

Who would determine what is decent protection and what isn't bearing in mind that the majority of injuries are either to the head or lower body, legs and feet.

You would then have to train the dealers (many of whom do not have a clue), the authorities who would police it, the insurers (who definately don't have a clue) and in some case the manufacturers whose idea of protection is based entirely on their track experience which is a different discipline to being on the road.

As mentioned, we already have too many regs and laws, but this would simply open up an even bigger can of worms.

[TC]

The Law of Common sense is enough.

We have more than enough laws to get pulled over for already.

Just go to North Wales with a small plate and your baffles out.

[Chimera101]

I gotta say, i'm fine with the helmet requirement and I agree that if ppl are daft enought to go without protective gear then good luck to them they will most likely change their minds after their first off...assuming they are alive and capable of riding.

at the end of the day, they can't take away our right to be an ass.....tho they will give it a bloody good try.

so no, I dont think we need it to be required by law

[Guest]

So why then, as a group, are we so judgemental towards riders who simply excersize the very freedom of choice that we seem to be in support of.

We call them silly and irresponsible, but then in the same voice stand up for their rights to be just that.

Personally, I do wear protective clothing, but I'm not about to stand and judge people who choose not too.

It is their choice at the end of the day, and it's not right to assume that they don't know the risks they are taking.

For example, we all know the dangers of excessive speed, but who among us hasn't seen what their bikes can do on occassion.

Not wearing protective gear might seem suicidal to some, but then travelling at warp speed on the public roads might be viewed the same by others.

I'm sure we are all guilty of doing things to the detrament of our safety and health at times, and wouldn't take too kindly to being judged over it.

Sometimes, I think we bikers are just as guilty as the health and safety obsessed extrememists we are so critical of.

[yorbandit]

I dont belive that there should be a law enforcing any more protective clothing, how ever i would not allow a pillion on my bike unless they had protective clothing so in that case that is my law if you want

Do i belive peeps are irresponsible when taking pillions not dressed in corrrect gear yes i DO especialy when the rider has full leathers etc on and his alleged love is perched on back in helmet and gloves only

[Guest]

Do i belivepeeps are irresponsible when taking pillions not dressed in corrrect gear yes i DO

 

So why then do you not believe there should be a law imposed to protect these people from themselves.

It would be irresponsible of me to allow my passenger on my bike without a helmet.

However if I did we would be breaking the law.

Assuming you think the helmet law is a good one, why not have a law making people protect the rest of their anatomy.

[yorbandit]

The freedom of choice is a far greater thing than we who take it for granted may ever understand and lets hope it stays that way, just because I belive something does not mean it is right nor does it mean i should force it on others

[Guest]

just because I belive something does not mean it is right nor does it mean i should force it on others

 

Couldn't have put it better myself.

I would just add to that, nor does it give me the right to judge people for excercising the very freedom of choice that I believe in.

[Guest]

I'm with Techno on this - helmets yes thats ok..anything else NO!

Our freedom to make our own choices and to live our lives the way we want and to accept the consequences of our actions are what seperates us from the Americans.

I agree, helmet yes but no more fekin laws!!

[Guest]

I agree, helmet yes but no more fekin laws!!

 

Actually, in fairness, we haven't had any laws imposed on us specifically in decades.

Yes, there have been changes to the structure of the test, but actual laws that restrict our freedoms on the road ?

[JoshRS]

There's no government law on the matter, other than the helmet. Darwin's law applies though.

[Guest]

There's no government law on the matter, other than the helmet. Darwin's law applies though.

 

Darwins law might also state that we're all a bit daft for riding bikes in the first place.

Let's face it.

If being safe on the road is our utmost priority, with or without protective clothing, boy have we chosen the wrong form of transport.

[JoshRS]

If being safe on the road is our utmost priority, with or without protective clothing, boy have we chosen the wrong form of transport.

 

You may be in the wrong forum?

Doing anything to increase your chances is an incedent is only a good thing.

By the way, this topic has been done to death!!!!

[Guest]

Doing anything to increase your chances is an incedent is only a good thing:

 

Which is why there are a lot of people who would like to see our chosen mode of transport taken off the road.

It's interesting how we decry the people outside our world who seek to impose their safety ideals onto us, but yet we're quite happy to do exactly that ourselves.

[Guest akey]

Mike as you seem to do alot you take what people say, extrapolate it to the exteame to prove a so called point.

It is like many things in life, just because we have the freedom to do something it does not mean we should do it.

I do and always will say people are irresponsible for not riding in what I would consider a min level of kit, this is not full leathers and top of the range helmet but somewhere I believe there would be a min of protection. I do not believe this should be law for many reasons like enforcement, fredom of choice etc.

I also deem people who climb mountains in inapropriate clothing irresponsible, again it is not against the law and neither would i wish it to be, but in my opinion they are irresponsible.

However the difference here is that I will not 'slag off' someone for wearing what i deem as to little kit, if i see them at a meet I will probably chat to them and be interested in why they choose that kit. On a mountain I will always try to educate people as to why they should wear appropriate cloting as I would on a river (as a kayak coach).

[Guest]

I guess my only issue is with those who ride round in completely inappropraite kit...say a t-shirt on in summer without gloves. Who picks up the tab when something nasty happens to them - usually the NHS. If you opt to significantly reduce the risk of injury to yourself...maybe you should have private health insurance!

[Guest]

But again this complete contradiction rears it's head.

How can you call someone irresponsible for not wearing the right kit, whilst in the same breath say that you do believe they should have the right too if they so choose.

So you'd try and educate people to mend their ways.

"On a mountain I will always try to educate people as to why they should wear appropriate cloting as I would on a river (as a kayak coach)."

If you were at a bike meet and saw someone not properly attired, would you also approach them and point out the error of their ways.

No of course not (I hope)

Because you know full well that it's not your business.

Willow

"I guess my only issue is with those who ride round in completely inappropraite kit...say a t-shirt on in summer without gloves. Who picks up the tab when something nasty happens to them - usually the NHS. If you opt to significantly reduce the risk of injury to yourself...maybe you should have private health insurance"!

Take that arguement to it's logical conclusion, and maybe all of us riders should have private healthcare.

After all, we ride what is statistically the most dangerous form of transport, even with full protective gear.

It's a lifestyle choice, so why should the tax payer foot the bill when we cop it.

[Guest]

Because we are also the tax payer. We paid for the NHS service too.

In short;

Voltaire once said - "I may not agree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it".

[Guest]

Willow

"I guess my only issue is with those who ride round in completely inappropraite kit...say a t-shirt on in summer without gloves. Who picks up the tab when something nasty happens to them - usually the NHS. If you opt to significantly reduce the risk of injury to yourself...maybe you should have private health insurance"!

Take that arguement to it's logical conclusion, and maybe all of us riders should have private healthcare.

After all, we ride what is statistically the most dangerous form of transport, even with full protective gear.

It's a lifestyle choice, so why should the tax payer foot the bill when we cop it.

 

I'm probably in the minority Mike but I'd be happy to take out private health care..because I've made a lifestyle choice and I am happy to take responsibility for my actions.

[Guest akey]

Actaully Mike I will often chat to riders about their choice of riding gear, and why shouldnt I? Most of all I am genuinly intersetd as to why they make the choices they do. everyones idea of the correct level of protection is different and I know people may think what i wear sometimes is innapropriate, but I would happily chat to them about the choices I make.

I have, on a number of occasions discussed clothing choices with people at many meets, and I have to say I have never had an angry or aggressive response - probably because I treat people with respect and am genuinly interested in their view. I dont wish to stop people wearing whatever they want - but I do reserve the right to my opinion of their choices as many people have their own opinions about me, my choice of kit, my bike, my car, my job, my lifestyle, the fact that my daughter has here own crosser, that she rides pillion and many other things about my life.

I like the way you presume that I lecture people on the mountain or anywhere else, I do not lecture (although re-reading my post I can see the way I wrote it may give that impression). I talk to people, engage with them and try to understand them. I do on the mountain or river talk to people and I do try to educate them as I have a wide range of experiences within both environments and often they are unaware of the dangers or issues with the clothing they are wearing.

As you have already agreed on the thread about banning stuff, I do not like the idea of stuff being banned, I do not agree with stuff being forced upon us as a nation, but I do and always will agree with best practice. I dont see this as duplicitous or two faced it is the grey area that is always involved when we discuss people and their social environment.

[Guest]

I'm probably in the minority Mike but I'd be happy to take out private health care..because I've made a lifestyle choice and I am happy to take responsibility for my actions.

 

You shouldn't have too.

Lot's of people make dangerous lifestyle choices.

As I pointed out on another thread.

Smokers cost the tax payer £1.5 billion a year for health services.

What is always conveniently omitted is the fact that the Government collect £8.5 billion a year in revenue from tobacco products.