If Maryland auto policies can have a \”named driver exclusion\” then why can\’t insurance companies add a clause stating they don\’t cover head and neck injuries if the rider doesn\’t wear a helmet? Shouldn\’t we be allowed to make our own decisions about wearing a helmet?
Sure, if you can finance your own health care. Following your thought process, shouldn\’t we repeal seat belt laws also? Your freedom of choice is great; as long as I do not have to pay for it (taxpayer).
How about an \”emergency services waiver\”, enabling any health care provider to refuse sevice unless you can prove you can pay for it? Coupled with a \”no helmet while riding\” exclusion in your policies, that ought to work out fairly well.
My only issue with helmet laws is their logical extension is to forbid motorcycles (and a whole host of other activities) altogether.
You can tell who really rides and those that watch just by their position on this type of bill. If you have ever ridden with a bucket on your head you would know why they don\’t work. Helmets limit your sight line and your hearing and there is more and more info coming out about how the helmet causes more damage to your neck during an accident because of the extra weight. You want to decrease fatalities of riders? Go to the source of the cause of the accidents: teach motorcycle information in the Drivers Ed classes and make it manditory to know the info when taking the test for the regular license!
It\’s a free country and you can do what you want, handglide, skydive, whatever, as long as the rest of us don\’t have to pay for it. But that\’s the problem isn\’t it – We always ends up paying for these often preventable catastrophic accidents, be it medical costs or welfare and long term care when these victims can no longer function because of their permanent injuries. This burden often falls on the immediate family.
Riding in traffic is extremely hazardous but riding without a proper helmet is suicide because sooner or later somebody is going to ram your bike, even if you drive defensively. My stepson was hit by a car and badly injured while riding his bike three weeks ago and of course the whole family is feeling the effects, his mother especially. The car\’s in the wrong, but so what. He\’ll be off work for at least 6-12 months after reconstructive surgery on his knee (may need replacement ) and smashed elbow plus fracured fibula/tibula and broken wrist, all on the left side. He was wearing his motorcycle helmet( mandatory in UK ) and suffered no head or spinal cord injuries which is what we were mainly worried about – bones can be patched or replaced but head and spinal cord injuries when not fatal are most often disastrous. Wear a helmet. If you don\’t believe me visit the paraplegic ward at your local hospital.
If Maryland auto policies can have a \”named driver exclusion\” then why can\’t insurance companies add a clause stating they don\’t cover head and neck injuries if the rider doesn\’t wear a helmet? Shouldn\’t we be allowed to make our own decisions about wearing a helmet?
Sure, if you can finance your own health care. Following your thought process, shouldn\’t we repeal seat belt laws also? Your freedom of choice is great; as long as I do not have to pay for it (taxpayer).
How about an \”emergency services waiver\”, enabling any health care provider to refuse sevice unless you can prove you can pay for it? Coupled with a \”no helmet while riding\” exclusion in your policies, that ought to work out fairly well.
My only issue with helmet laws is their logical extension is to forbid motorcycles (and a whole host of other activities) altogether.
You can tell who really rides and those that watch just by their position on this type of bill. If you have ever ridden with a bucket on your head you would know why they don\’t work. Helmets limit your sight line and your hearing and there is more and more info coming out about how the helmet causes more damage to your neck during an accident because of the extra weight. You want to decrease fatalities of riders? Go to the source of the cause of the accidents: teach motorcycle information in the Drivers Ed classes and make it manditory to know the info when taking the test for the regular license!
It\’s a free country and you can do what you want, handglide, skydive, whatever, as long as the rest of us don\’t have to pay for it. But that\’s the problem isn\’t it – We always ends up paying for these often preventable catastrophic accidents, be it medical costs or welfare and long term care when these victims can no longer function because of their permanent injuries. This burden often falls on the immediate family.
Riding in traffic is extremely hazardous but riding without a proper helmet is suicide because sooner or later somebody is going to ram your bike, even if you drive defensively. My stepson was hit by a car and badly injured while riding his bike three weeks ago and of course the whole family is feeling the effects, his mother especially. The car\’s in the wrong, but so what. He\’ll be off work for at least 6-12 months after reconstructive surgery on his knee (may need replacement ) and smashed elbow plus fracured fibula/tibula and broken wrist, all on the left side. He was wearing his motorcycle helmet( mandatory in UK ) and suffered no head or spinal cord injuries which is what we were mainly worried about – bones can be patched or replaced but head and spinal cord injuries when not fatal are most often disastrous. Wear a helmet. If you don\’t believe me visit the paraplegic ward at your local hospital.