NEW POLL - Helmet laws...

[Diesel]

This one is bound to be a little controversial folks, but everyone's opinion is worth the same amount whether you agree or not.

Vote YES if you'd support being able to wear NO helmet; OR

NO if you believe we MUST wear helmets every time we ride.

I believe a lot of M/C friends we have here today are alive because of helmets, and I'm voting NO to keep the current legislation.

I must agree though, it would be fantastic to ride in T-shirt, shorts, thongs and sunnies on a 30 degree day if safety was not an issue.

Has the helmet law ALWAYS been compulsory in this country?

Cheers, Diesel

[royst1100]

have had the need to use the lid on numerus ocasions saveing my scull at the age of 17 still on Ls- to jaw and side of head later in life plus other minor incidents. the thought of being free is great BUT "get into car turn key, adjust music, SEATBELT, gears then go"isnt it the same automatic sequence for bikes

no not always. nsw had exeptions by medical resons at one stage but not shaw about now

[Dan]

I'd rather the powers that be spent their time legalising filtering than looking in to this.

Personally, I wouldn't ride without a lid even if I could.

[alans1100]

Before I got my licence in SA all those years ago it was possible to ride a bike at 15mph (24kph) or under without a helmet. Some time during the change over to metric the rule was removed. Since I also live on a street corner with access to my back yard as well I will ride the bike around the corner and into the back yard without helmet.

Otherwise it's helmet on.

We didn't have helmets for pushbikes either and that changed as well, maybe about the same time as above.

[bobSTer]

 

This is where the age shows through.

With my L's and Licence - how great it was to be able to attain and sustain 85-120 MPH without even a thought for a lid.

Wind in  the hair - straining to keep the mouth and cheeks as one - in one piece that is - without the cheeks wanting too fold back and the wind trying to rip your tonsils out.

It was great - no thought of safety - only Mr Plod has to wear a HELMET and you both waved as you passed.

However NOW - with all the idiots in tin tops - the Helmet is a must - NO OTHER WAY.

Bob

 
 

[Shaun]

I shake my head at the TV every time I see someone in an American flick riding around on a bike without a helmet.

No way I would get on the road without one, regardless of whether I was permitted not to.

Cheers, Shaun

[Brock]

I rode home from Perth without a helmet one afternoon, (along the freeway) after some one stole it while I was visiting a specialist. It was hot, my face was blasted with hot air, exhaust fumes amd sand. I had to keep my eyes nearly closed and it was noisy. You may gather that I was a tad uncomfortabe.

I aslo was expecting to get pulled over, but no coppers were sighted and none saw me..

[terrydj]

I voted yes as I should. Motorcyclists have always died because of damage to their bodies very rarely dying from head injuries. Hmmm and a bit of did you know?? When helmets became manditory in Australia the ammount of motorcycle deaths in regard to registrations actually increased. Have always had a Fred Hill in memorium patch on my bike. Don't care what your opinion is other than its yours, but what gives others the right to tell others how to protect themselves. Klick on the Link and learn something.
 http://wadmag.mag-uk.org/fred_hill.htm

[Shiney]

I’ve still have all my head thanks to wearing a helmet
So I would have to say wearing a helmet is a good thing, and due to the fact the law is applied to everyone and not only to some and not to others I think it should stay.

[Sicman]

I voted yes as I should. Motorcyclists have always died because of damage to their bodies very rarely dying from head injuries. Hmmm and a bit of did you know?? When helmets became manditory in Australia the ammount of motorcycle deaths in regard to registrations actually increased. Have always had a Fred Hill in memorium patch on my bike. Don't care what your opinion is other than its yours, but what gives others the right to tell others how to protect themselves. Klick on the Link and learn something.
 http://wadmag.mag-uk.org/fred_hill.htm

Good article in that link Terry. I agree with Fred that the law should apply equally. In my experience I have found its the ones we pick up with head injuries are the ones who don't make it. Open faced helmets allow them hard objects to get in and do damage.

Ride Safe all so you don't get to meet me at work!
 

[Whizz]

I have ridden both with and without a helmet, in UK, in the States and in the middle east, and whilst it can be fun for a short period the risk assumed is preposterous. Helmets are hot, uncomfortable and generally dammed expensive but they are also life-savers in so many situations that it would be hard to imagine not wearing one. Sorry I vote NO, keep wearing the skid-lids and keep saving noggins from being shattered like eggshells in even the mildest sudden meeting with the tarmac.

My 5cents worth

Whizz
 

[West Aussie Glen]

I can remember saving hard when still at school (1968, the year I turned 17)to buy a top of the line AGV helmet to use on my first bike. I almost cried the first time it rolled off the seat and hit the ground.A couple of years later I hit a Valiant just behind the "C" pilar and did a forward roll over the boot with the back of my helmet being the first thing to touch the ground. The ground won and took a few layers of resin and fibre glass off the back of the helmet. Hate to think what it would have done to my head. Yes I love the freedom of riding a bike without a helmet but also appreciate having two good eyes and a skull in one piece, both things I owe to wearing a helmet and visor/eye protection.

[royst1100]

i read several months ago an american man fellof his bike at a rally to demonstrate against helmet laws, died instanly of head injuries

great advertisement for that rally eh

[Poppy Dave]

Having been an Ambo and a Copper for a combined total of 38 years, I've seen my fair share of M/C crashes and as a result would NEVER dream of riding without one.

When you talk about dying from damage to bodies being the main cause of death to motorcyclists I think you'd find that those crashes would have involved high speed, were even riding inside a protective bubble wouldn't have been any help. Maybe they would have had fatal head injuries if they hadn't been wearing helmets?

I'm sure that if riding helmet-less was just as safe we'd see some of the GP riders out there with just a pair of goggles.

What about when you get hit by flying objects, and we all know how much that can hurt.

Just my 2 bobs worth,


Dave R                                                                 

[terrydj]

I voted yes as I should. Motorcyclists have always died because of damage to their bodies very rarely dying from head injuries. Hmmm and a bit of did you know?? When helmets became manditory in Australia the ammount of motorcycle deaths in regard to registrations actually increased. Have always had a Fred Hill in memorium patch on my bike. Don't care what your opinion is other than its yours, but what gives others the right to tell others how to protect themselves. Klick on the Link and learn something.
 http://wadmag.mag-uk.org/fred_hill.htm

Good article in that link Terry. I agree with Fred that the law should apply equally. In my experience I have found its the ones we pick up with head injuries are the ones who don't make it. Open faced helmets allow them hard objects to get in and do damage.

Ride Safe all so you don't get to meet me at work!
 

Mate I've lost 3 close friends because of accidents on bikes and none of em died from head injuries. Seems when you hit or are hit by an immovable object an injury to the head is of minor concern. Two of the riders had full face helmets and both helmets came off in the accident which seem to be pretty common. Two were hit and one ran into the back of a truck????????.