Motorcycle Helmet Law

[Tango]

So....MAG are having a bit of a time of it at the moment.....but, that aside, I've read a number of comments about the continuing campaign for the repeal of the compulsory wearing of crash helmets on bikes.....some say that this is an old argument and that MAG should move on? What do you think?

Should helmets be compulsory when riding a motorcycle? Should riders have a choice whether to wear a lid or not? If the law was changed and helmets were no longer compulsory do you think that anyone riding a bike without a lid should pay a higher premium on their insurance or take compulsory medical insurance to cover any possible costs for medical treatment for head injuries they may sustain?

Discuss.....

[Bogof]

Should helmets be compulsory when riding a motorcycle?

 

Yes. If a rider is injured it affects others too, not just the rider.

There is NO doubt that helmets save lives and reduce severity of head injuries, so they should stay compulsory.

As for MAG, they should continue to represent the interests of those that fund their activities. Alternative groups exist and may promote alternative views and opinions.

[Joeman]

Helmets for learners should be legal requirement.

But for people who have passed their full A-licence it should be optional as they are clearly aware of the dangers of riding without one, and i bet most would still ride with a helmet.

[TC1474]

Why does the debate over compulsion still raise its ugly head?

It has been compulsory for more years than most riders have been alive let alone riding (I can just remember the days of non compulsion), there is no dispute that whilst it may not prevent a fatality (although they have in many cases), they have reduced the severity of serious brain injury cases, and I for one cannot ever see why people would want the legislation repealed other than to give them that freedom of choice.

There are more pressing issues that time could be constructively used, this is debate on helmets is past its sell by date.

Just my opinion for what its worth.

[Tango]

Why does the debate over compulsion still raise its ugly head?

It has been compulsory for more years than most riders have been alive let alone riding (I can just remember the days of non compulsion), there is no dispute that whilst it may not prevent a fatality (although they have in many cases), they have reduced the severity of serious brain injury cases, and I for one cannot ever see why people would want the legislation repealed other than to give them that freedom of choice.

There are more pressing issues that time could be constructively used, this is debate on helmets is past its sell by date.

Just my opinion for what its worth.

This is why I included a poll.....is it really an old subject...or do many people still feel it's an infringement of their civil liberties.....so, lets see what comes of the poll.

Personally, I would always wear a crash helmet....compulsory or not......and I'll always wear a seat belt in a car......but that's just how I feel....others may feel very differently to that.....

[Glorian]

Personally i think it shouldn't be compulsory, a lot of people buy cheap nasty helmets that provide little to no protection. You also a lot of the time get guys on their hayabusa or suzuki GSX1000 riding along with a £300 helmet on but wearing shorts and t-shirt. Now a helmet aint gonna save that idiot if he comes off. Sensible people who wear reasonable protection when they go riding (jacket boots gloves trousers helmet) would always wear one if it was a legal requirement or not.

[Fozzie]

My eyes water at anything above 40mph... And sunglasses/glasses are useless and goggles are stupid so may as well stick with a helmet...

I think it should stay compulsory... As idiots will take advantage of it and then even if Darwin does his good work, we all get tarnished for spreading brains all over the floor and horrifying people. Whereas the nice system of helmet and even light gear keeps you in one piece if you hit something hard enough that underneath the layers you've been reduced to soup...

Why is a helmet so bad? I like having the wind/noise/crash protection.

And they look cool... An Arai or Shoei is far more interesting to look at than someones bug covered, wind battered, dusty face... Even if the latter carries some hilarity.

[TC1474]

Personally i think it shouldn't be compulsory, a lot of people buy cheap nasty helmets that provide little to no protection.

 

That is a very sweeping statement.

Any helmet sold in the UK must comply with EC22/05, so it has to comply with a minimum standard but in any case, a cheap well fitting helmet will afford a darn site more protection than an expensive poorly fitting hat.

I have not long concluded a case where a chap was wearing a £400 helmet, and it actually contributed to his death.

In the same vein, I have dealt with cases where the so called "Cheap and nasty helmet" has actually saved their life or prevented them becoming a vegetable.

Watch Fake Britain on BBC1 next month, and you will see a case of an expensive branded helmet actually splitting in two after only a couple of impacts.

[Joeman]

My reasons are pretty selfish.

My garage is at the end of my garden, but opens out onto a different road fom my house - a private road thats only used by the locals to get to their garages. But there is a stretch of about 20metres of public highway to get to my drive way.

So when ive done fiddling about with my bikes (wearing t-shirt jeans/shorts etc) I normally ride the bike round to the front of my house, park up and go inside to get kitted up with leathers etc.... Thats assuming i remembered to take my helmet to the garage with me!

If i forgot my lid, then just for the sake of that 20m stretch of public road, i have to walk all the way back to my house to get my helmet... its a right royal PITA!

If helmets were not a legal requirements, i would have no concerns about riding from my garage to my front door with no helmet. i barely go over 5mph as the road is loose surface and full of potholes...

[Smokin Joe]

We all should have the right to go to hell by our own route, so I'm firmly in the no camp. That does not mean I would not wear one myself, but I have no right to tell others what they should or should not do.

And the argument about what you do effecting others is a very dangerous road to go down, bearing in mind that motorcycling is one of the most dangerous forms of transport risk wise.

[littlecat]

given that the wearing of seatbelts is compulsory, I don't see any reason why the wearing of a helmet on a motorcycle wouldn't be .

and this is from someone who learnt to ride in spain, many moons ago and didn't have to wear anything more than a bikini and sunglasses if I so chose.

the freedom of choice movement still have the option to ride in next to nothing if they choose, but with a helmet....and that can be an open faced pisspot if they so choose......

cant see a problem.

if it was compulsory to wear full gear, and have abs, traction control, steering dampers , whatever , whatever, then I could see the freedom of choice brigade up in arms ( and I might join em lol) , but a helmet at least keeps their brains off the road, stops me sliding in them if i'm riding, and saves my kids from seeing a very graphic representation of what could happen.

might also have the slight advantageous side effect of saving their life...but that's probably beside the point

[al_stu]

Seat belts are a legal requirement...same argument surely?

Well I'm in favour, and if it was up to me it'd be compulsory to do more training for your CBT and always wear protective clothing too.

[Adam]

I think we all know my opinion when it comes to wearing the right gear fron the "Why isn't it the law?" thread. Unsurprisingly I think it should be compulsory, not only for the sake of the rider but also the sake of the innocent by standers that are unfortunate enough to witness an accident involving a motorcycle. A helmet prevents your head hitting an object but also adds a barrier between your face and the road, we've all seen pictures of road rash on legs and arms which can be severe but something you can live with, losing your face isn't.

Chances are if the accident is bad enough the rider will pass away, which for them is the end of it obviously. However the people that witness the accident will have to live with that image for the rest of their lives which can be seriously traumatising. No extra insurance premiums or medical cover will make it any better.

Same as I said before in a car you have to wear a seat belt so why shouldn't you have to wear complete biking gear?!

[Comrade]

The laws are there to protect people from themselves, stop families from attending funerals and people endangering themselves. Consider it a deprivation of liberty order to protect us. Every UK citizen has the freedom of choice providing the acivity does not cause harm to themselves or harm to others.

[Stu]

my personal opinion

MAG need to wind their necks in and stop "acting" on behalf of bikers when the majority of bikers would rather it stay compulsory which includes me

[Joeman]

So its OK to smoke in public forcing others to breath cancerous smoke, but Its not OK to die from head injury in public in case you offend bystanders..

Smoking kills many more people than motorcycling and adds a much larger strain on the NHS and tax payers than motorcyclists, yet the relatively low numbers of uk motorcyclists are forced to wear helmets... Whilst smokers are free to kill themselves and potentially others with their 2nd hand smoke..

So why have such a small minority (motorcyclists) been singled out when other road users such as cyclists and horse riders dont have to wear helmets??

Seems to me that which ever government was in power at the time passed the helmet law to try to make it look like they were doing something to tackle motorcyclist deaths to keep voters happy and raise income from fines rather than allowing people to use their common sense and chose to wear a helmet as most these days would.

Just to clarify, I spend a few hundred per year on helmets through choice, not because it's law, and I wouldnt bother to protest for the ban to be lifted, I just wish the law was never created in the first place.

[Stu]

So its OK to smoke in public forcing others to breath cancerous smoke, but Its not OK to die from head injury in public in case you offend bystanders..

 

 

simple answer to this

how much tax do they get from fag smokers?

ah yes a f**king lot enough said

[Comrade]

Take it up wth your local MP,i agree the laws of protection are very selective. The problem of people dying from brain injuries can be drastically reduced and enforced very quickly by making it law to wear a helmet. Sorted, done. Practical.

Trying to prevent people from smoking is a huge problem, you ban the cigerettes you create an economic vaccum , a black market for unregulated dangerous cigerettes, what do you do with people who smoke and have a huge addiction? lock them up.Inpractical.

What they are doing is making it unfashionable and antisocial so people frown upon smoking and society will talk themselves out of it eventually and then no Government will look like the bad guys who took you choice away.

[Joeman]

If ever we join Europe properly, it'll be interesting if European helmet laws get applied here in the uk.

I've has great fun on holiday with scooters and no helmet.

[fq-craigus]

Im amazed at what im reading...... people actually would ride without a helmet given half the chance........

As already mentioned all helmets have to comply with eu legislation so therefore are safe enough. Protective clothing doesnt stop you breaking bones, abrasion protection is the aim, yes there is padding and armour to minimise damage, only helmets actually do a good job at savibg your life, you can die feom falling over in the street and bumping ur head, so a helmet helps with this.

I have witnessed the result of a friend riding without a helmet, he didnt survive the impact with the tree and burnt into the back of my mimd is his crushed head, I was physically sick. This just reinforces what someone else said that others can be affected too.

[Bogof]

If ever we join Europe properly, it'll be interesting if European helmet laws get applied here in the uk.

I've has great fun on holiday with scooters and no helmet.

 

Which part of European helmet law do you feel would be interesting?

[Joeman]

If ever we join Europe properly, it'll be interesting if European helmet laws get applied here in the uk.

I've has great fun on holiday with scooters and no helmet.

 

Which part of European helmet law do you feel would be interesting?

 

thinking about it, its probably all changed since i was as lad... but we always used to rent scooters and ride about in shorts and t-shirt and flip flops with no helmet. No doubt banned by the European fat cats.

[Joeman]

Im amazed at what im reading...... people actually would ride without a helmet given half the chance........

As already mentioned all helmets have to comply with eu legislation so therefore are safe enough. Protective clothing doesnt stop you breaking bones, abrasion protection is the aim, yes there is padding and armour to minimise damage, only helmets actually do a good job at savibg your life, you can die feom falling over in the street and bumping ur head, so a helmet helps with this.

I have witnessed the result of a friend riding without a helmet, he didnt survive the impact with the tree and burnt into the back of my mimd is his crushed head, I was physically sick. This just reinforces what someone else said that others can be affected too.

 

A helmet would likely not have saved him if he hit a tree at any kind of speed..

[Stu]

A helmet would likely not have saved him if he hit a tree at any kind of speed..

 

A helmet saved me when I ploughed in to a tree at a decent pace!!

the helmet was a right mess I never felt a thing!!! that I can remember! and no I wasnt knocked out

[Bogof]

thinking about it, its probably all changed since i was as lad... but we always used to rent scooters and ride about in shorts and t-shirt and flip flops with no helmet. No doubt banned by the European fat cats.

 

I believe you'll find that helmet use is a statutory requirement in all civilised countries. For good reason!