There’s yet another attempt being made in the Tennessee General Assembly to repeal a state law requiring motorcyclists to wear helmets. It was a bad idea last year (when lawmakers wisely decided to take a pass on this misguided legislation), just as it was a bad idea when it came up the session before that.
Supporters of repealing the law are certainly passionate when it comes to this issue. Unfortunately, their hardheadedness will do little to save them from serious injury if they have a motorcycle accident while not wearing a helmet.
Committee hearings are scheduled this week in the House and Senate to allow motorcyclists 21 and older to decided for themselves if they want to wear a helmet. Tennessee lawmakers should make no changes to the law.
Accidents can and do happen to the most careful of riders, and even the most experienced bikers are subject to serious head injuries if they are not wearing a helmet. Repealing the mandatory helmet law will only result in higher insurance costs for all Tennesseans. A study conducted in Washington found that state’s taxpayers paid nearly $3.3 million a year to care for injured, helmetless bikers and their families.
Studies indicate that wearing a helmet can help motorcyclists reduce their risk of head injury in crashes by up to 85 percent. Federal highway safety officials have even reported a helmet can help protect a rider from brain injury by up to 88 percent.
All compelling reasons for state lawmakers to leave the helmet law as it is.
Areyoukiddingme writes:
February 28, 2013
11:53 AM
Just add a line to the motorcycle license: "I understand that if I should receive a head injury while riding a motorcycle, no medical facility will treat me."
rambler writes:
February 28, 2013
1:20 PM
I'm an avid motorcyclist- riding nearly every day and averaging 30k miles a year. Although I would never consider riding without a helmet, I think the decision should be the rider's. The law only mandates that a DOT approved helmet be worn, which is not regulated properly. A cheap "beanie" style, plastic helmet from the flea market with a fake DOT sticker will pass Tennessee requirements.
Raven writes:
February 28, 2013
7:25 PM
Helmets don't save lives. Seriously. It just makes people fell "good".
cprnmo writes:
February 28, 2013
8:22 PM
As a survivor of a horrific motorcycle accident, had I not been wearing a helmet, I would not be here today. A short ride on a beautiful labor day weekend turned into a nightmare in a matter of seconds. Please, if not for yourself, then for your loved ones, PLEASE always wear a helmet. I would have never in a million years thought that I would have been in an accident. My husband has been riding motorcycles since he was a small child. He has had over 90 motorcycles in his lifetime. He lives and breathes them. But that did not stop him from having an accident. I am so thankful that he was so adamant about me wearing a helmet so that my life was not cut short. We did receive some serious injuries, but we both escaped without any brain/head injuries due to our helmets. I hope that this helmet law is kept the same so that others can be protected as well. And "Raven", HELMETS DO SAVE LIVES, including my own.
SovereignAxe writes:
March 1, 2013
11:47 AM
The government should not be protecting citizens from themselves.
Maybe have a requirement for riders under the age of 18, but adults should be able to make adult decisions. That includes doing something that might get them killed/turned into a vegetable.
truthful writes:
March 4, 2013
6:38 PM
The older rider`s have more since when it comes to safety i know that anyone can have a accident . But some of these younger kids on these motor cycles are crazy flying in and out of cars i think they are stupid because some rider can make a mistake one time and that`s it . I seen rider`s bout to wreck for some object laying in the road i know you can`t see it till it is to late . i`m not a rider but i do respect and some of them should respect others . i think the decision should be up to the rider if he wants one on or not
provided.