If you can come up with a good statistical correlation between going helmet-less and costing taxpayers/society in general extra money, then people not wearing helmets should pay more for their insurance. However, I think if you want to ride without a helmet, you should be able to (just don't get any brains on me when you go down).
I wouldn't ride to the mail box without a helmet (and it's at the end of my sidewalk), but I think adults should be able to make that choice for themselves.
I support helmet laws for minors, but once you're an adult, I think it should be your call. As long as people have to be fully responsible for all aspects of their choices, they should be able to do what they want as long as it doesn't hurt others.
It gets very sticky though-- what of the family on welfare or the kids in a foster-parent program because their parent or parents caved in their heads riding without a helmet? It's intractable. However, I think we in America should err on the side of personal freedom when faced with a complex situation like this one.
-Tom
I wouldn't ride to the mail box without a helmet (and it's at the end of my sidewalk), but I think adults should be able to make that choice for themselves.
I support helmet laws for minors, but once you're an adult, I think it should be your call. As long as people have to be fully responsible for all aspects of their choices, they should be able to do what they want as long as it doesn't hurt others.
It gets very sticky though-- what of the family on welfare or the kids in a foster-parent program because their parent or parents caved in their heads riding without a helmet? It's intractable. However, I think we in America should err on the side of personal freedom when faced with a complex situation like this one.
-Tom
