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For Or Against Helmets?
Blog Date - Wednesday, February 06, 2013
For Or Against Helmets?
Since 1973 it has been compulsory to wear a helmet whilst riding a motorcycle in the UK. Since I can remember that helmet had to meet certain standards, it used to be BS (British Standards...not Bull S##t) now it's some European thing, an "e" with some numbers. Who knows, there's some "focus group" somewhere that decides. But should we be FORCED to wear helmets rather than make an informed choice ourselves?
I'm a fan of helmets. They keep my head nice and warm through the winter, the visor keeps the rain out of my eyes, I feel a little safer with it on and after 22 years I'm quite used to wearing one. I am CERTAIN that a helmet has saved my life at least once and I'm fairly sure I'd have some marvelous facial scars without a helmet from another accident. I'm also a fan of proper motorcycle jackets, pants, gloves and sturdy boots. The helmet I have to wear, the rest of my gear is my choice.
It's a bit cream crackered, but I owe it my life.
Given the choice I'd still wear a helmet, but should that be my choice? There are, of course 2 distinct schools of thought.
It should be my choice.
The law should be there to protect people from other people, I do not need protecting from myself. I am rightly not allowed to hurt others physically but I can choose to go skateboarding or hill walking and I have to accept that if I hurt myself then that's my problem. I can smoke tobacco and drink myself into a stupor. I agree that I ought to be made aware of the dangers of smoking and drinking, skateboarding and hill walking, but I am free to choose if I face these dangers or not.
I am not however free to choose if I wear a helmet or not whilst I ride my motorcycle. Someone somewhere, who's probably never ridden a motorcycle, has decided for me that I need protection to stop me hurting myself. If by not wearing a helmet I endangered other road users then fine, but my not wearing a helmet is not going to make me any more of a danger. In fact I would feel more vulnerable WITHOUT a helmet and therefore I would ride more carefully. I object to the law protecting me from myself.
It should not be my choice.
There is little doubt that wearing a motorcycle helmet is a good idea and reduces the risk of head and brain injury. By making motorcyclists wear helmets we reduce the number of fatalities and brain injuries. Not only can we reduce the risk to the rider we can save many families and friends the heartache of losing a loved one or from having to care for the injured. It is reasonable to say the rider is not protecting just himself but those around him.
Some members of the public, no matter how well informed, may not be smart enough to make the right choice and wear a helmet. No amount of public information stops everyone taking drugs or driving too fast, we have laws to control this behavior and so we should have laws to enforce the sensible act of wearing a helmet.
So those are 2 possible points of view. Being indecisive I'm unsure exactly which way I feel about this and I shall leave it to you to decide how you feel. I'll always wear a helmet but then again, just once every while on a quiet road on a warm sunny afternoon, it would be great to feel the wind in my hair and face. The law stops me enjoying this freedom, but it also prevents me from smashing my skull into the tarmac...
Reader's Comments
Simon said :-
I can clearly recall the helmet laws being introduced and the associated protests. I even remember the Sikh community objecting as they were not required to wear helmets because of their turbans and they feared this might cause hatred against them.
I also remember losing a friend to a head injury. You make some valid points about freedom to choose how we live and what we do but ever since losing my friend and seeing the sorrow of his family I've supported the helmet laws.
01/01/2000 00:00:00 UTC
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