No, Maine does not have a helmet law (except for new riders – 1st year licensed, and kids under 14.) -And doesn’t need one. I am a rider, and I susbscribe to United Bikers of Maine’s credo of “Let those who ride, decide”… But the interesting part of this article is the fact that motorcycle registrations are up 31% over the past four years! While the total number of fatalities is up, I suspect proportionately they are not up 31 % !!
I have rode mine coast to coast, and agreed with Pete, Let those who ride decide. Personally I wear mine as a rule. I have been involved in a few crashes which could have been much worse had I not been properly dressed. Helment, leathers, good eye protection, boots, gloves may be warm at a stoplight, but what a difference they make when you’re sliding down the road. Here’s to keeping the shiny side up!
I have rode mine coast to coast, and agreed with Pete, Let those who ride decide. Personally I wear mine as a rule. I have been involved in a few crashes which could have been much worse had I not been properly dressed. Helment, leathers, good eye protection, boots, gloves may be warm at a stoplight, but what a difference they make when you’re sliding down the road. Here’s to keeping the shiny side up!
Where does legislation of safety stop? There are more accidents caused by dropped cigarrettes and changing radio stations than cell phones. Shall we legislate that too? Shouldn’t the individual take the responsiblity for their own actions at some point?
If a rider’s decision, and the outcomes,
could be based purely on his or her actions
I might agree that riders should decide
whether or not to wear a helmet. They are
not. We must always consider “the other guy”.
There are fiscal and emotional consequences
that go beyond the individual rider once he
has “bought the farm”. Anyone so self-centered
or stupid to not consider that should not
have the privilege of riding. So live to ride.
Just my opinion.
Hello Fasteddie,
The most important question to me is not about helmet use, it is “What are the causes of the motorcycle accidents?” and “Who is at fault in these accidents?”
Instead of concentrating on what the rider is wearing, and listening to the media hype about helmets, I think we should be asking why the number of accidents is up? Who or what caused these accidents to happen and how can we prevent it from happening?
In my experience riding, the four-wheel driver that did not see me caused all four of my accidents! “I didn’t see them” is the most common reason given to Police at the scene of a motorcycle/automobile accident. Cause and effect……The four-wheel driver caused the accident, the effect is that there is a motorcyclist hurt! Just because a rider may or may not have been wearing a helmet does not take the blame off the motorist for causing the accident. Some may argue that if the rider were wearing a helmet, the rider may not have been hurt so badly? But that still doesn’t take the blame off the four-wheel driver that caused the accident! And in some cases, the wearing of a helmet may actually hurt the rider more than it helped them….
Does anyone have, or can anyone get, the real statistics on the cause of motorcycle accidents? In a recent article in the Arizona Republic titled “Arizona sees increase in motorcycle accident deaths” It said that, although experts still say helmets are vital, they say that it is the “type of people taking up riding” that contribute to the increase in accidents. Ron Arieli of T.E.A.M. Arizona, a Rider Ed Course, explains that the majority of riders are “untrained” and how the dynamics of riding have changed. A MVD spokeswoman agrees that “training is lacking” and the narrow profiles of motorcycles make them harder to see. The article goes on to say how Arizona motorcyclists have provided billboards to promote “Motorists Awareness”. Bobbi Hartman, ABATE of AZ Designated Lobbyist and Coordinator of their Motorcycle Awareness Program states “I think you can see that this article gives a true picture of the many reasons there is an increase in motorcycle accidents, and none of them have to do with the fact that Arizona does not mandate adult helmet use. The only way to prevent accidents is – EDUCATION, EDUCATION, EDUCATION – AWARENESS, AWARENESS, AWARENESS !!!”
In the media we are only told the number of motorcycle fatalities and weather or not the riders were wearing helmets, and the percentage of head traumas resulting in fatalities. But not why the accident happened. Which gives ammo to the “do-gooders” and certain companies that want to regulate everyone’s lives, tell them what to wear, where to go, how to get there, and doesn’t want anyone to think for themselves because “that might be dangerous”. Could you imagine a headline like this…
” In the news today, Automobile Caused Motorcycle Accidents Resulting in Fatalities were up 31% while Motorcyclist Caused Accidents Resulting in Fatalities hovered around 1%.”
Being a long time member of several MROs (Motorcycle Rights Organizations) I have seen the media and many governmental organizations skew the numbers to make it seem as though the accidents (or the fatalities) are the fault of the motorcyclist for not wearing a helmet? When in 75% of accidents it is the person driving the car, talking on a cell phone, playing with the radio, and not watching what is happening on the road around them that failes to yield the right of way injuring or killing the motorcyclist! And this type of driver is only growing in numbers!
I believe what we need to do is get John/Jane Q. Public (four wheel driver) educated about motorcycle awareness and get them involved in saving lives, not taking them.
Let those who ride decide!!!
Ride Safe, Ride Free
Does Maine have a helmet law. Wearing a helmet may not prevent a death, but if it saves one life.
Also maybe a hands free cell phone law is needed
2shea Pete……..I was just kidding of course – Hell, enjoy the ride brother!
No, Maine does not have a helmet law (except for new riders – 1st year licensed, and kids under 14.) -And doesn’t need one. I am a rider, and I susbscribe to United Bikers of Maine’s credo of “Let those who ride, decide”… But the interesting part of this article is the fact that motorcycle registrations are up 31% over the past four years! While the total number of fatalities is up, I suspect proportionately they are not up 31 % !!
Strap on a helmet old man, we shouldnt have to be scraping up your brains off the pavement after you wipe!
I have rode mine coast to coast, and agreed with Pete, Let those who ride decide. Personally I wear mine as a rule. I have been involved in a few crashes which could have been much worse had I not been properly dressed. Helment, leathers, good eye protection, boots, gloves may be warm at a stoplight, but what a difference they make when you’re sliding down the road. Here’s to keeping the shiny side up!
I have rode mine coast to coast, and agreed with Pete, Let those who ride decide. Personally I wear mine as a rule. I have been involved in a few crashes which could have been much worse had I not been properly dressed. Helment, leathers, good eye protection, boots, gloves may be warm at a stoplight, but what a difference they make when you’re sliding down the road. Here’s to keeping the shiny side up!
To: For Pete’s Sake…
All the helmet will do is keep the mess in one place!
Where does legislation of safety stop? There are more accidents caused by dropped cigarrettes and changing radio stations than cell phones. Shall we legislate that too? Shouldn’t the individual take the responsiblity for their own actions at some point?
If a rider’s decision, and the outcomes,
could be based purely on his or her actions
I might agree that riders should decide
whether or not to wear a helmet. They are
not. We must always consider “the other guy”.
There are fiscal and emotional consequences
that go beyond the individual rider once he
has “bought the farm”. Anyone so self-centered
or stupid to not consider that should not
have the privilege of riding. So live to ride.
Just my opinion.
Hello Fasteddie,
The most important question to me is not about helmet use, it is “What are the causes of the motorcycle accidents?” and “Who is at fault in these accidents?”
Instead of concentrating on what the rider is wearing, and listening to the media hype about helmets, I think we should be asking why the number of accidents is up? Who or what caused these accidents to happen and how can we prevent it from happening?
In my experience riding, the four-wheel driver that did not see me caused all four of my accidents! “I didn’t see them” is the most common reason given to Police at the scene of a motorcycle/automobile accident. Cause and effect……The four-wheel driver caused the accident, the effect is that there is a motorcyclist hurt! Just because a rider may or may not have been wearing a helmet does not take the blame off the motorist for causing the accident. Some may argue that if the rider were wearing a helmet, the rider may not have been hurt so badly? But that still doesn’t take the blame off the four-wheel driver that caused the accident! And in some cases, the wearing of a helmet may actually hurt the rider more than it helped them….
Does anyone have, or can anyone get, the real statistics on the cause of motorcycle accidents? In a recent article in the Arizona Republic titled “Arizona sees increase in motorcycle accident deaths” It said that, although experts still say helmets are vital, they say that it is the “type of people taking up riding” that contribute to the increase in accidents. Ron Arieli of T.E.A.M. Arizona, a Rider Ed Course, explains that the majority of riders are “untrained” and how the dynamics of riding have changed. A MVD spokeswoman agrees that “training is lacking” and the narrow profiles of motorcycles make them harder to see. The article goes on to say how Arizona motorcyclists have provided billboards to promote “Motorists Awareness”. Bobbi Hartman, ABATE of AZ Designated Lobbyist and Coordinator of their Motorcycle Awareness Program states “I think you can see that this article gives a true picture of the many reasons there is an increase in motorcycle accidents, and none of them have to do with the fact that Arizona does not mandate adult helmet use. The only way to prevent accidents is – EDUCATION, EDUCATION, EDUCATION – AWARENESS, AWARENESS, AWARENESS !!!”
In the media we are only told the number of motorcycle fatalities and weather or not the riders were wearing helmets, and the percentage of head traumas resulting in fatalities. But not why the accident happened. Which gives ammo to the “do-gooders” and certain companies that want to regulate everyone’s lives, tell them what to wear, where to go, how to get there, and doesn’t want anyone to think for themselves because “that might be dangerous”. Could you imagine a headline like this…
” In the news today, Automobile Caused Motorcycle Accidents Resulting in Fatalities were up 31% while Motorcyclist Caused Accidents Resulting in Fatalities hovered around 1%.”
Being a long time member of several MROs (Motorcycle Rights Organizations) I have seen the media and many governmental organizations skew the numbers to make it seem as though the accidents (or the fatalities) are the fault of the motorcyclist for not wearing a helmet? When in 75% of accidents it is the person driving the car, talking on a cell phone, playing with the radio, and not watching what is happening on the road around them that failes to yield the right of way injuring or killing the motorcyclist! And this type of driver is only growing in numbers!
I believe what we need to do is get John/Jane Q. Public (four wheel driver) educated about motorcycle awareness and get them involved in saving lives, not taking them.
Let those who ride decide!!!
Ride Safe, Ride Free