I used to live in PA (family still does) They have no helmet laws...
The amount of idiots that don't wear them is un fucking believable... Most people that don't wear them are the cruiser types that think wearing a helmet is stupid and isn't going to save your life anyways...

Here in VA you have to wear a helmet.

Personally speaking I think wearing or seeing full gear looks hot as hell! Especially when someone has cool looking gear or helmets..etc.

That's my helmet and personally I love it, if I could I would wear it everywhere!

I can understand having people choose whether to do or not do something but considering it's the law to wear a seatbelt why would they not force a helmet law...

On top of that not wearing a helmet is stupid because you get BLASTED in the face with wind... I drove UP my street going about 20mph and was like "F THIS" because my eyes were tearing from the air hitting them... I couldn't even imagine what it's like to go normal speed limit let alone having a truck in front of you that has sand. dirt, rocks..etc. It's common sense to wear the bloody things..lol

-Nigel

 

I used to live in PA (family still does) They have no helmet laws...

Pennsylvania Law requires that any person who operates or rides a motorcycle must wear protective headgear unless he or she is​

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21 years of age or older and has been licensed to operate a motorcycle for not less than two full calendar years OR has completed a motorcycle safety course approved by PennDOT or the Motorcycle Safety Foundation. All individuals operating a motorcycle on a learner's permit must wear a helmet regardless of age.
The operator or occupant of a three-wheeled motorcycle equipped with an enclosed cab is exempt from wearing a helmet. In response to this law the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation developed regulations for the minimum performance requirements for helmets
designed for use by motorcyclists. Additionally, the regulations specify how the helmet shall be labeled to help identify a helmet that meets both the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS 218) and Pennsylvania regulations (Title 67, Chapter 107) for helmets.

http://www.dmv.state.pa.us/pdotforms/fact_sheets/fs-pub7206.pdf
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i visited my wife's family in Montana - bikes everywhere with riders going helmetless.

i live in Washington state, where helmets are mandatory - seeing helmetless riders was startling, and kinda scary looking at em.

i'd say let Darwanism thin out the herd.... but the distributed healthcare costs make it not viable.

 

CO does not have a helmet law... PPL out on their HD's everyday without them... Well every day except for today cauz we are in the middle of a blizzard.
rideco

 

CT has no helmet law, but surrounding states do.

I always wear one...and I'm ATGATT most of the time.


Brad

 

and I'm ATGATT most of the time.

Brad

So I guess it would be STGSTT (Some of The Gear Some of The Time) for you then!:laugh:

Az. no helmet law! La. there is but the idiots are trying to over turn it!!?!?!

 

Living in Wisconsin, you would be surprised to see a handful of other riders actually wearing helmets. I doubt it will ever change, being that this is Harley country and they do have a strong influence in motorcycle rules.

 

I live in NY and we have a helmet law. I always wear one, even riding the four wheeler. I don't think it should be up to the states to decide. I think people should wear one because its a good idea, not because its the law. Besides, there is a lot of hot gear on the market that can make the rider look as sharp as the bike!...:thumbup:

 

Why do you need a helmet law? Wear one if you want to. Despite what they think, it's not the government's job to tell you what safety precautions to use.

 

+1 on that!! I wear one all of the time but I dont think its the govt. job to mandate this. Same thing for seat belts IMHO... I wear one of those all of the time too...
rideco

 

Here in Georgia helmets are mandatory for all motorcyclists but in South Carolina...your head magically gets harder after you turn 21 so you don't have to wear a helmet.

 

So you can use it as a frame slider.

 

I've had the privilege or misfortune depending on how you look at it, too crash test 2 helmets and I can assure you, i'd not be here if not for them in both instances.

Wear one, don't wear one, I don't really care. It's not up to me, but I will say that if you ride long enough, and put on enough miles, you will fall and go boom.

 

i'm just curious...

don't most states now have mandatory seatbelt laws?

why would helmets be any different?

not only is it common sense, but there hasn't been this huge backlash against the seatbelt laws (as least as far as i can tell) so why do (we) motorcyclists believe that our "personal freedom" is suddenly at risk when we are discussing helmets?

even the ama and msf doesn't advocate mandatory helmet laws, but instead relies upon personal choice and their "recommendation" to wear helmets.

isn't there a parallel here with the ama position about equality for both autos and motorcycles? could the seatbelt and helmet law be equivalent? in my mind that could be the case. but, i'm rambling on now....

either way, i will ALWAYS wear a helmet, regardless of the state law.

 

No helmet laws here in Florida.... all kinds of idiots out running around without them, mainly Harley's and the like but you see crotch rockets without them too

 

Actually Florida does have a helmet law. You have to wear a helmet if you are under 21 and you have to wear eye protection at all times, but beyond that I think you can be pretty much naked w/sunglasses and still be legal :nod:

Now here in Arkansas, we have the same law as Florida:

"All passengers and operators of motorcycles and motor-driven cycles used upon the public streets and highways of this state shall be equipped with the following equipment under standards set forth by the Office of Motor Vehicle of the State of Arkansas:
(1) Protective headgear unless the person is twenty-one (21) years of age or older; and

(2) Protective glasses, goggles, or transparent face shields."

But, I see we may have a new law coming, one I wouldn't mind either, if you want to ride w/o a helmet, you should have insurance :nod:

Arkansas Helmet Law

 

In North Dakota, if I remember right you have to wear one if you're under 16 and any passenger to a driver under 16 has to wear one too. No laws other than that, and not many people wear helmets either.

 

Just remember...whenever there's a motorcycle accident, regardless of whether the fault belongs to a squid, a safe experienced rider, a drunk off-duty cop, the soccer mom on the fuckin' cellphone, or Kang in a UFO landing on your ass...the newspaper always reports:

"the motorcyclist was wearing/not wearing a helmet".

The press doesn't seem to care too much about what caused the accident (ie: the drunk off-duty cop, the soccer mom, squid, or them damn UFOs).

BTW, I read the Face Plant forum daily over at ADVrider.com

Brad

 

This is probably 205, but what the heck?

From the AMA site, motorcycle laws by state...including helmets.

http://www.amadirectlink.com/legisltn/laws.asp

Brad

 

Indiana no helmet law if you are over 18 and have a motorcycle license.
I don't care I have mine on all of the time. That is how I got this OLD.:rofl2:

 

Helmets are mandatory here in New Jersey, but the second you ride into PA it all goes to hell..

I always wear my helmet, no matter what state I am in.

 

Compulsory in the 52nd state too:smile:

 

Bradleyd beat me with the AMA Link. I'm in AZ and no helmet law unless under the age of 18.

And to the comment of the gov. shouldn't be mandating safety laws, why do we have a mandatory seat belt law then??? The NTSB's job is to minimize the amount of highway accidents.

 

I agree that it is the responsibility of the rider to wear a helmet, law or not I will protect my melon. It was wierd seeing people without 'em, I had to do a double take. Also, last time I was in Cali...lane splitting...bumper to bumper traffic, I was envious of the bikes that just rode on along not having to sit in it. I don't know if I'd have the balls to lane split though.

 

We had this debate a little while back... posting old stuff would get you called 'Hitler bike' over here:smilielol5: lane splitting is called filtering here, perfectly legal:thumbsup:

 

AZ

In AZ, if you are below a certain age, you must wear one. Otherwise, eye protection is the only requirement of the law. (Protect the eye, but not the jello which controls the functions of the eye????)

I personally believe if there are seat belt laws, there should be helmet laws. I believe a (state or fed) government's primary purpose is to serve its people. Secondary is to protect its people...even if it's from themselves. Ironically, m'cycle cops are required to wear helmets on duty, why is that?

Besides, if anything could give you the slightest chance of surviving an accident, why would you not want it, if one claims to love this activity so much???? Live to ride another day, and like it was stated above, the gear is a freakin' awesome compliment to the bike.

I rarely ride to work, but when I do, many stop to make comments about riding ("donor-cycle", "I know so-and-so who died", etc), but they all were initially attracted by the gear hanging up. I could still see the excitement in their eyes, and how they secretly wished they had the courage to do it too. Some even try on the helmet, while lecturing me on how dangerous m'cycling is, but they all say "At least you wear the gear", as they feel the texture of my jacket and "ooh-ah" at my m'cycle calendar.

After every single ride I look at the minute chips in the face shield from the many insects that exploded on it, and I also notice the chips from bouncing rocks that hit the helmet and just thank myself for wearing more than a napkin on my face and some sunglasses.

 

NO HELMET LAWS IN HAWAII. Personally I think even seat belt laws should be at the individuals discretion. AS WELL AS helmet laws. I think the government has an obligation to protect its citizens FROM OTHER CITIZENS, Such as DUI/Assaults/Etc. But when it comes to self protection, I.E. Seat Belt and Helmet laws, they should shut the hell up. What are they gonna ban next? Smoking? Drinking? Sky Diving? they could all fucking kill you, so your not allowed to do them. Now don't get me wrong I wear my helmet every time I get on my bike. Even if it is just to the store down the road for smokes. I wear it partly cause I want to, and partly cause the army says I have to. I would NEVER get on a highway without one. BUT there are the rare occasions when you are riding the strip where I just wish I could skip the lid and cruise.

True Story

 

NO HELMET LAWS IN HAWAII. Personally I think even seat belt laws should be at the individuals discretion. AS WELL AS helmet laws. I think the government has an obligation to protect its citizens FROM OTHER CITIZENS, Such as DUI/Assaults/Etc. y

I thought this was an interesting statement. So if the government has an obligation to protects its citizens FROM OTHER CITIZENS, such as DUI, do you not think that requiring a seltbelt law does that? Just curious.

I personally believe that gear is essential and those that do not wear it are.... where is Canyondancer on this topic???lol.

But, its their noggin. I do think that if a rider does not choose to wear minimal gear, then taxpayer dollars/insurance premiums should not be placed on us. The rider decided not to wear gear, THEY are responsible for all the $$$ obligations.

 

Oh they are working on smoking too. A new tax goes into affect Apr 1st which is going to raise the cost of a pack by 1$. Which after the last tax increase in CO less then a month ago will bring them to above 6$ a pack. :sifone: while you can....

rideco

 

Oh they are working on smoking too. A new tax goes into affect Apr 1st which is going to raise the cost of a pack by 1$. Which after the last tax increase in CO less then a month ago will bring them to above 6$ a pack. :sifone: while you can....

rideco

£5.70 pack of 20 here - roughly - that's $8 at today's exchange rate. It doesn't bother me in the least as I hate smoking.

Sorry for the derail, back on track - helmet law - not questioned here at all, it's been compulsory since the early 1970s.

 

http://www.bikersrights.com/states/50state.html

 

Everyone is entitled to their own say. When it comes to personal safety, I will take all the necessary precautions to ensure my own health (I will always wear a helmet, even for a test ride around the block). Even though I think everyone should wear a helmet, I don't agree that everyone should be mandated to (freedom of choice/expression, the construct of the constitution and federal regulations imply the least restrictive means while states may go on to further protect rights). It could be that not wearing a helmet is seen as symbolic speech or speech plus?

Using my state for an example, we have seat belt laws; however, an officer may not pull you over and issue a seat belt violation by itself. A seat belt violation must be coupled with another "legitimate" traffic infraction/violation. Kind of weird, eh? Actually, my city is having a debate over legislation about helmet laws now! The argument was that a no helmet law would bring in more motorcycle tourism. :smilielol5:

Lastly, please wear a helmet! It's your fundamental right of choice, but come on! We already take a huge risk by riding a machine that only has two wheels with the capability to exceed 100+ mph in seconds. There's no need to take anymore additional risks!

 

Illinois has rider discretion for helmets as well. I wear one most of the time, but do enjoy putting around the back roads on one of my vintage bikes w/o a helmet on a nice summer morning. I've always been one to roll the dice even with my personal safety.