No law, few helmets in sunny Florida
During a recent weekend in Florida, one thing that was particularly striking for a Maryland visitor was the almost total absence of helmets on the heads of motorcyclists in that state.
In Maryyland, you see, motorcycle helmets are the law. In Florida they were once the law, but the statute was repealed. So now, virtually every motocyclist you see in that state is riding bare-headed. I would estimate that fewer than 20 percent of the bikers I saw wore protective headgear. There was absolutely no sign that Florida motorcyclists were compensating for their unprotected skulls by driving any safer than Maryland bikers.
My guess is that in the absence of a law, fashion takes over. Nobody wants to be the dweeb wearing a brain bucket.
I'm aware of all the arguments about freedom of choice and yaddah-yah, but as the driver of a passenger vehicle I want the lives of the people I share the road with to be protected from the possibility that I will make a mistake -- or fail to respond to the mistake of another quickly enough. Call its selfish on my part, but I don't want to be carrying around the burden of killing someone. I'm happy to do my part to look out for motorcyclists but I also appreciate motorcyclists loooking out for themselves. On this issue at least, Maryland's got it right.
Comments
"On this issue at least, Maryland's got it right."
Not really. It approaches the principle of getting it right (ATGATT*) but misses the mark by the paternalistic approach rather than the self motivated from education approach.
Rather than the silly MVA operator test to get licensed we could insist on (and of course help fund) the MSF Rider Safety Course and similarly require the MSF Experienced Rider Course at renewal.
Of course the same could be said for the automobile licensing standards as well... woefully inadequate for todays roads and traffic volume.
http://www.msf-usa.org/
*A motorcycling acronym used in basic theory and practical motorcycling lessons to remind motorcyclists to wear All The Gear All The Time (ATGATT), referring to jacket, helmet, pants and gloves.
Posted by: MrRational | September 30, 2009 2:33 PM
Whether the author likes it or not is beside the point. Legislators have the only say-so in the matter.
Motorcyclists know it. That's why they get off their duffs and work to elect legislators that aren't nanny-crats. And that's why Maryland's helmet law will eventually fall.
That's exacly what we do at B4BS.NET - get the right people elected in the first place.
Posted by: Sturdi | September 30, 2009 3:59 PM
Get the facts. Read Helmet Law Facts here: http://www.sbumaui.org/helmet_law_facts.pdf
Posted by: Warren | October 3, 2009 3:24 AM
hey Michael Dresser..the leading cause of automobile fatalities is from head trauma...why don't you wear a helmet in your car if your soooooo concerned..... stop with your selfish BS and let people live free from your self imposed guilt and selfish desires for a safer world....go out a live your life any way you want and leave us alone
Posted by: robbie gianni | January 14, 2010 3:04 PM
As far as helmets and protective gear goes; I am a All the gear, all the time kidna guy!
But If you choose to ride your motorcycle with minimum of NO protection, then let it be so. The only one your hurting is yourself, your wife, girlfriend, husband, boyfriend, brother sister, father, mother, aunts, uncles, and everyone whom cares about you! And you should have to have a seperated $50K Liability insuance policy so when your stupid ass gets maimed, mutilated or you die, MY insurance rates won't increase!
Posted by: Scotty | January 15, 2010 9:47 PM
You are wrong! Florida does to this day, have a motorcycle helmet law. the helmet law was never repealed. instead Florida adopted and insurance provision that allows riders over 21 to ride without a helmet provided they have the proper medical insurance coverage.
When you report something you should get the facts, what you wrote is completely false.
Posted by: Paul | January 19, 2010 4:54 PM