Helmet Laws kill Bikers

Helmet Safety Info

Do motorcycle helmets cause accidents?

Dear Law Maker,

Soon, you will be voting on a measure to make motorcycle helmet use voluntary. The "Experts" at DOT, NHTSA and the Health Department have provided you with lots of information about motorcycle helmets. I honestly hate to contradict these esteemed "Experts"...however, I think that some of the "facts" that they are providing are flawed.

I have an idea that might help to "personalize" the helmet law issue with those Law Makers who have never been on a motorcycle. I suggest the following:

Why not conduct your hearings and votes with all of the Members wearing motorcycle helmets? Again and again, we hear from "experts" how motorcycle helmets do not interfere with hearing, vision and so on. Let's put that expert testimony to the test, shall we?

Let's have each Member wear a DOT approved, full face helmet (the only type that the NHTSA feels confident about) for the duration of the session. Don't forget to attach a face shield! And don't use a brand new face shield...get one that's a few Months old and has some scratches on it.

In case you chose not to do this, here is what you would notice: first, you won't be able to hear anything. People sitting next to each other will have to shout to be heard.

Second, you won't be able to see much. Forget about peripheral vision... your Pals could give you rabbit ears for hours and you'd never know it.

Oh, and just for fun, bring along a water pistol and shoot it at other Members to simulate rain. That'll cut down the vision a bit more. Even if you don't resort to squirt guns at 20 paces, the inside of your face mask will quickly fog up making vision just about impossible anyway. Don't worry.... eventually, you will learn how to breath and hold your head in a way that minimizes the fog. Of course you might not want to go flying down Oregon's highways at 55 MPH doing those kinds of contortions, but that's another matter again.

Third, you'll notice yourself getting tired and irritable fairly quickly. That's because helmets are heavy and hot. Instead of being in an air conditioned office, think about riding around all day in the sun like that...you'll start to get the picture.

Anyone who tells you that motorcycle helmets don't impair the senses and don't cause accidents has never worn a helmet, it's as simple as that. Please don't fall for that malarkey.

And I haven't even gotten to the part about motorcycle helmets being known to cause massive neck injuries and paralysis yet... how much do you suppose it costs to care for a 20 or 30 year old quadriplegic for the rest of his life?

Please let the real Experts, those who have ridden motorcycles for years, decide what is and is not motorcycle safety equipment. Mandatory helmet laws are much more than a "freedom of choice" issue to us. We are asking that the Government quit forcing Motorcyclists to wear a piece of so-called safety equipment that is a menace to our health and well being!

Please vote to allow Adult Americans to make their own choices about their own safety.

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