Helmet law in MI may be 86'd soon.

[WarrenJ]

I live in a rural, marshy area - if I didn't wear a helmet, I would have so much bug DNA injected into my face.....I'd be even less hansome than I am now?  I can't imagine catching a junebug in the face.  I have no interest in riding without a helmet period. 

[Howie]

Fact is we don't know if helmets increase medical expenses or reduce medical expenses.  It costs more to take care of a disabled person than to bury a dead person.

[thought]

I live in a rural, marshy area - if I didn't wear a helmet, I would have so much bug DNA injected into my face.....I'd be even less hansome than I am now?  I can't imagine catching a junebug in the face.  I have no interest in riding without a helmet period. 

thats what i think about everytime i take off my helmet and see bug armageddon all over it...  i dont know how the people who insist on no helmets deal with it.

[Monster Dave]

i dont know how the people who insist on no helmets deal with it.

I wonder the same thing....

[ducatiz]

Fact is we don't know if helmets increase medical expenses or reduce medical expenses.  It costs more to take care of a disabled person than to bury a dead person.

What if you bury them in this?

[Howie]

What if you bury them in this?

I don't think neithr that or the pyramid it goes in is covered by insurance unless you purchase a special rider.

[lemond]

meh, let people of Michigan do what they want, it is their heads and not ours. I like my helmet cause A, it makes me look cool, and B I feel naked if I dun wear it when on a bike.  [moto]

[muskrat]

well lets put it this way.  Most medical insurers have clauses that can deny claims to injured riders that were not wearing "safety gear" which generally means helmets.  Here in TX Aetna did just that and it was upheld.  So in the end you can choose to be cool and take your chances.  Up until about four years ago I never wore one on my cruiser but always on my sportbike.  I'm not past being cool and always wear one no matter what bike.

[Grappa]

In my opinion, you choose to wear a helmet or not.  I prefer to wear one all the time.  But please, please, please don't be one of those douche bags who ride around without a helmet on their head but one attached to the bike somewhere.  When I see them I just about pray that they crash.

[ungeheuer]

Y'know...... when I read a thread like this one.... makes me realise that America is different.   So much so that I struggle to understand why.... how there could even be... any debate.   Like many places on earth, I live in a society where medical help is not dependant on private insurance and as such its my feeling that We The Taxpayer - we who will pay your medical bills in the event of serious injury - We do have a right to expect that you take some action to minimise the impact of any.... expensive injury. 

We pay the bill if you make the beast with two backs up, so yes, We demand that you adhere to a minimum level of protection.  We demand that you - at least - wear a helmet.  I dont have a problem with this (but then I'd wear a helmet even if society didnt require it of me).

But I do understand the attraction of the Free To Do As You Like philosophy (no matter how foolish it could turn out to be) .   Just dont expect the rest of society to fund cleaning up any mess you may make.

[zarn02]

But I do understand the attraction of the Free To Do As You Like philosophy (no matter how foolish it could turn out to be) .   Just dont expect the rest of society to fund cleaning up any mess you may make.

This.

A body should be free to do as it wishes, so long as it doesn't infringe on the freedoms of others.

The other side of that coin that no one should be expected to pick up the bill for your idiocy.

[Punx Clever]

We pay the bill if you make the beast with two backs up, so yes, We demand that you adhere to a minimum level of protection.  We demand that you - at least - wear a helmet.  I dont have a problem with this (but then I'd wear a helmet even if society didnt require it of me).

If I believed that socialized health care was good, and we had it, I would also say that helmets should be mandatory.

But I don't, and we don't, so I still believe that, as an adult, the onus is on me to keep me alive. 

[ducatiz]

well lets put it this way.  Most medical insurers have clauses that can deny claims to injured riders that were not wearing "safety gear" which generally means helmets.  Here in TX Aetna did just that and it was upheld.  So in the end you can choose to be cool and take your chances.  Up until about four years ago I never wore one on my cruiser but always on my sportbike.  I'm not past being cool and always wear one no matter what bike.

that seems to be a slippery slope.  where do they stop?  boots?  Gloves? jacket? pants?  those are all safety gear for a bike rider.

[Punx Clever]

that seems to be a slippery slope.  where do they stop?  boots?  Gloves? jacket? pants?  those are all safety gear for a bike rider.

Could just go with the DOD requirements... but then you'd see everyone wearing the gay little reflective vests...

BTW, DOD is:
Helmet
Safety glasses / goggles if not a full-face helmet
long sleeves
full finger gloves
long pants
boots
High visibility colors during the day, reflective at night

[muskrat]

that seems to be a slippery slope.  where do they stop?  boots?  Gloves? jacket? pants?  those are all safety gear for a bike rider.

It's up to them, after all they are a private insurer and they can run their business as they see fit.